In brief
Three ballistic missiles targeted a training camp near Ataq in Shabwa province, killing at least 53 recruits and wounding over 200. Yemen’s leadership condemned the attack as a war crime and warned of a firm counter‑response. The incident marks one of the deadliest assaults in a conflict that has recently escalated with renewed offensives by Saudi-backed forces. The strike has triggered a broader cycle of retaliation, as both sides accuse each other of targeting civilian‑moving or political objectives.
More than 50 security forces personnel have been killed and 200 injured in a Houthi missile strike on a training camp in Shabwa province, local authorities said.
The camp, situated near Ataq city, was used by recruits for the internal security forces and police. A spokesman for the Saudi‑backed armed forces reported that the Houthis launched three ballistic missiles at the Martyr Ahmed al‑Sulaimani Training Centre, targeting a gathering of ‘Saudi enemy’ forces.
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al‑Alimi called the attack a “criminal” offence and pledged a firm response. The Houthis’ military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the missiles struck a Saudi‑run camp, claiming it was a legitimate target.
The strike – one of the deadliest since the recent escalation – has overwhelmed local hospitals. Shabwa’s deputy governor Fahad al‑Khalifi said the most severely wounded were being transferred to Aden and Hadramout.
Information Minister Moammar al‑Eryani labelled the attack a war crime because the site was not a military target. He also accused the Houthis of exaggerating victories to mask setbacks on various fronts.
In a separate incident, Houthi media reported an air strike on a home in Saada’s Sahar district that killed at least 10 civilians, including women and children. Houthi health officials documented 141 deaths in Saudi strikes over seven weeks.
The ongoing civil war, which began in 2014, has been punctuated by periodic ceasefires and renewed offensives. The latest round of Saudi‑backed advances seeks to reclaim territory in western Yemen, with air support from a wider coalition of Arab states.
Published 8 minutes ago
