The death toll resulting from a Houthi missile attack on a government military camp in southern Yemen has climbed to 73 individuals, all of them new recruits. This incident marks the deadliest strike since the country’s conflict began escalating three months ago, as reported by a senior Yemeni government official on Tuesday.
The recruits, aged between 18 and 20, were targeted by Iranian-aligned rebels at the al-Alam training camp in the Shabwa province. The attack, involving ballistic missiles, left some recruits missing even a day later, according to provincial governor Awad Ibn al-Wazir as cited by The Associated Press.
The recent surge in fighting in Yemen, which commenced with airstrikes on the Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport by forces from the internationally-recognized government and the Saudi-led coalition in July, shattered a ceasefire deal from 2022 that had previously mitigated hostilities in the civil war.
In response to the escalating violence, the Houthis have also launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia, leading to significant challenges for the Saudi forces despite being equipped with advanced U.S.-supplied weaponry.
The strike on the al-Alam camp occurred while recruits were in formation for a training session, resulting in numerous casualties. Over 200 other recruits sustained injuries from the attack, with the casualties consisting of new recruits from various regions of Shabwa undergoing training for security duties rather than combat operations.
The camp’s location in the Jardan district, north of Ataq, the provincial capital, is strategically positioned along a vital supply route connecting to the government-controlled Marib province. Shabwa, Marib, and Hadramawt provinces collectively form the Yemeni government’s “triangle of power,” housing the nation’s oil and gas production facilities.
In a related development, the U.K. announced an expansion of its military support for Saudi Arabia in countering Houthi threats. The British Royal Air Force will conduct defensive air patrols over Saudi Arabia to safeguard cities, civilian populations, and critical infrastructure from potential missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed rebels.
The U.K.’s proactive role in assisting Saudi Arabia comes amidst the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where a UN-led political process remains the preferred avenue for achieving lasting peace, as reiterated by British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting in a parliamentary statement.
