Ansar Allah's (Houthis) missile attack on a training camp in Shabwa province, Yemen, claimed 53 lives and is considered the largest human toll since the resumption of the civil war in Yemen in September of this year. The attack targeted the "Al-Ilam" camp in Shabwa province located in southern Yemen, and over 200 people, mostly from the youth forces, were also injured in this incident.
Details of the Incident and Its Consequences
This attack, described as a catastrophe by the Yemeni government recognized by the United Nations, occurred while the injured were being transferred from the police and army training camp in the Jardan area to a hospital in the center of the province, Ataq, and urgent requests for blood donations were made.
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The Yemeni government has announced that it will soon conduct an investigation into how such a number of forces became vulnerable to Ansar Allah's attacks. In mid-September, Ansar Allah launched new attacks against the government forces recognized by the United Nations and has attempted to take control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
International and Domestic Reactions
Rashad al-Alimi, the President of the UN-recognized government, stated that the victims of this attack were new recruits and promised a decisive response to this attack. He said: "This incident emphasizes that targeting new recruits reflects Ansar Allah's approach to carrying out cowardly terrorist attacks whenever they are under pressure."
Al-Atyabi, the President, also contacted Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and called for Ansar Allah to be recognized as a foreign terrorist organization.
The Shabwa government also stated that targeting new recruits is a clear military escalation and aggression against the security of the province. The Governor of Shabwa, Awad bin al-Wazir, visited the injured in hospitals and emphasized the need for a decisive response to these attacks.
This attack highlights the danger of military forces gathering in a location accessible to Ansar Allah. The training camp was targeted by three ballistic missiles while the forces were standing in formation.
Ansar Allah forces have also cut off the communication road between Shabwa and Al-Bayda province. The military spokesperson for Ansar Allah stated: "Our armed forces attacked the gatherings of the Saudi enemy at the Al-Ilam camp, which is managed by Saudi officers in the eastern regions. This attack resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens from the Saudi enemy's gatherings, including Saudi officers."
Fighting continues as Ansar Allah attempts to begin a siege of the Yemeni city of Taiz, and citizens are calling for increased air protection. Southern forces are also reported to be trying to push Ansar Allah forces out of control of the area around Bab al-Mandab.
It is still unclear whether Ansar Allah has decided to reduce attacks on Saudi airports and energy facilities or if their ammunition supplies are running low. Aramco's headquarters was targeted last weekend, and some airlines have announced that they still do not intend to resume flights to Riyadh airport.
Hans Grundberg, the UN representative in Yemen, is scheduled to meet with ministers in London on Tuesday.
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