At least 53 people killed in Houthi attack on a Yemeni army camp in Shabwa

 At least 53 people killed in Houthi attack on a Yemeni army camp in Shabwa

At least 53 people killed in a Houthi attack on a Yemeni army camp in Shabwa. A spokesperson for the government forces stated that the Houthis fired ballistic missiles at the camp in the southern governorate while a training exercise was underway.

According to local officials, at least 53 people have been killed in a Houthi missile attack on the Al-Alam military camp in southern Yemen.

A spokesperson for the Yemeni government forces reported that the Iranian-backed armed group fired three ballistic missiles at the camp in Shabwa Governorate on Monday, during a training exercise.

1 of 4: Fighting is intensifying as the humanitarian crisis deepens across Yemen.

2 of 4: Egypt will provide 'necessary' support to Saudi Arabia amidst Houthi attacks.

3 of 4: What kind of support can Egypt offer Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis?

4 of 4: The GCC has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as the conflict in Yemen intensifies.

End of list.

Officials from the internationally recognized government and medical sources initially reported that at least 18 people were killed and over 30 injured in the attack, which struck a location where new security recruits were undergoing training.

According to news agencies, these figures rose sharply later on Monday, with local authorities in Shabwa reporting that 53 people had been killed and 200 wounded.

'Hostile Threat'

The attack took place amidst ongoing fighting across Yemen. The civil war had eased following a 2022 ceasefire between the Saudi-backed government and Houthi rebels; however, the regional repercussions of the ongoing US-Israel conflict—which has also involved Iran—have reignited hostilities.

Fighting escalated sharply last month when the Houthis—also known as *Ansar Allah* (Arabic for "Supporters of God")—seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast from forces loyal to the government.

In response, Saudi-backed government forces launched "Operation Dawn of Yemen," an offensive aimed at recapturing territory held by the Houthis, including the capital, Sanaa, which the Iran-aligned group seized in 2014.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting sites such as Riyadh’s international airport and the state-owned oil company, Aramco.

On Monday, Saudi authorities issued a warning to residents of the capital, Riyadh, regarding a "hostile aerial threat."

New Recruits

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, stated that those killed in Shabwa were new recruits, and he vowed a "strong response."

Get instant alerts and updates tailored to your interests—be the first to know when major stories break.

"Targeting recruits reflects the Houthi militia's pattern of resorting to terrorist-style attacks whenever they come under pressure," he said.

Reporting from Sanaa, Al Jazeera’s Youssef Mawry stated that the Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack. They stated, "The Houthis claimed that this attack targeted what they described as 'Saudi-backed' military bases—referring to Saudi-supported Yemeni government forces deployed in military camps across the country."

"The Houthis have declared that they will continue to target these positions. Spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that any location with a Saudi-backed military presence will be considered a legitimate target."

Earlier, Yemeni government forces reported that they had targeted Houthi gatherings, vehicles, and weaponry in Al-Qurud, Al-Shaqab, and Al-Sarari—areas located south of Taiz that are currently grappling with fuel shortages and rising prices.