In brief
Houthi rebels killed or injured at least 30 Yemeni government soldiers in a series of missile and drone strikes on emergency force camps in central Yemen. Diplomatically, Yemen’s health minister condemned the attack as treacherous, while the United States branded it cowardly. The attacks come amid escalating tensions as the Houthis deny responsibility for a new maritime embargo and prior retaliatory strikes, and with the Saudi-led coalition backing the government, the strike escalates a civil war already responsible for 150,000 deaths.
Houthi attacks kill at least 30 Yemeni government forces
At least 30 Yemeni government troops are reported to have been killed in Houthi rebel attacks on military camps in central Yemen.
Missiles and drones struck several camps run by the Emergency Forces in the al‑Ruwaik area of Marib province and the al‑Abr area of Hadramawt.
Health Minister Qasim Bahibah condemned the "treacherous" attack, saying it was intended to destabilise security and stability.
A Houthi spokesman said they had targeted "large Saudi military build‑ups" preparing for an offensive, while a Saudi‑led coalition has supported the government during the civil war.
The US mission to Yemen called the attacks "cowardly" and framed them as another example of the Houthis’ terrorism against the Yemeni people.
Since 2014, Yemen’s civil war has left over 150,000 dead and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than 22 million people in need of aid.
Although an informal truce had existed since 2022, recent weeks saw an escalation, with the Houthis signalling a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and striking Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea.
Yemen’s government and Saudi Arabia claim the attacks are retaliation for a Saudi blockade and for an air strike at Sanaa airport attributed to the kingdom by the Houthis.
Image caption: The Houthis claim they targeted large Saudi military build‑ups at camps.
