The Houthi attack on a training camp for Yemeni government security forces in Shabwa province resulted in the deaths of 73 people. This news was announced by the media office of Shabwa province and indicates an escalation of clashes in the region.
Details of the attack and casualties
In this attack, which took place on Monday, 14 people were also reported missing. The Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, have been exchanging attacks since last September. During this period, the Houthis have advanced towards areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping point at the mouth of the Red Sea.
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Humanitarian consequences and regional situation
Local officials reported that three ballistic missiles were fired at security forces during training. Verified videos show injured individuals and bloody bodies on the ground. According to the governor of Shabwa, more than 200 people have been injured in this attack.
The military spokesperson for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, stated that this camp was managed by Saudi forces. However, Saudi officials have not responded to media requests for immediate comment.
Yemeni government forces have launched offensives against Houthi-controlled areas this month and have succeeded in recapturing some areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to besiege the city of Taiz, the last major urban stronghold of anti-Houthi forces in southern Yemen.
These clashes are seen as another front in the broader U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, with Houthi attacks on Riyadh International Airport and Saudi Aramco, the world's largest crude oil exporter.
Shabwa province, rich in energy resources and economically vital, is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas facility, which is considered Yemen's largest industrial investment.
The Yemen war began in 2014 with the Houthi takeover of Sana'a, pushing the government southward. The Saudi intervention in 2015 led to a bloody stalemate, and a ceasefire that lasted until this year was in place since 2022. Relief agencies warn of a critical humanitarian situation in Yemen, which is currently one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
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