53 killed in Houthi missile attack, biggest single loss of life since Yemen civil war reignited
Missile hits training camp
A Houthi ballistic missile hit a training camp used by Yemeni government forces, killing at least 53 people. More than 200, mostly young people, were said to have been injured.
The deaths mark the largest single loss of life since the civil war reignited in September. Authorities said an inquiry would examine how so many troops were left vulnerable to attack.
Government vows response
Rashad al-Alimi, president of the UN-recognised government, said those killed on Monday were new recruits. He pledged an immediate, forceful response. Al-Alimi said the attack reflected the Houthis’ use of violence when facing pressure. Shabwa’s provincial authority called the strike a military escalation and an assault on the province’s security; Governor Awad bin Al-Wazir visited injured people in hospitals.
Fighting near Red Sea route
In mid-September, the Houthis began a new push against forces supporting the government, moving south along the Red Sea coast in an effort to take the Bab al-Mandab waterway. Southern forces were reported to be making gains against Houthi control around Bab al-Mandab, a narrow passage connecting the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean. Houthi forces have also cut the road between government-run Shabwa and Houthi-run Bayda.
Key points
- At least 53 people died in the missile strike on a government forces training camp.
- More than 200 people, mostly young recruits, were reportedly injured.
- The government plans an inquiry into why troops were exposed to the attack.
- The Houthis have pushed south toward Bab al-Mandab and cut a road between Shabwa and Bayda.