Urdu Report Desk
A Houthi ballistic missile attack on a military camp in Yemen’s Shabwa province has killed more than 53 people and injured over 200, intensifying fears of renewed fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
According to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, the attack targeted Al-Alam military camp, where newly recruited members of Yemen’s internal security forces were undergoing training.
Missiles Target Security Recruits
Two military sources said three ballistic missiles were fired at the camp. Yemeni armed forces spokesperson Majed Al-Nuzaili described Al-Alam as a training centre for security personnel and police recruits.
Shabwa Deputy Governor Fahd Al-Khalifi said the large number of casualties had placed local hospitals under severe pressure. Critically injured patients had to be transferred to neighbouring provinces, including Hadramout and Aden. Some of the wounded remained in critical condition.
Fears of a New Houthi Offensive
According to Reuters, government forces fear the missile strike could be followed by a Houthi ground offensive in Shabwa.
A military source in the province said the developments could pave the way for a similar advance to the one witnessed last month in the Red Sea coastal city of Mokha, which the Houthis captured. The source requested anonymity.
Military sources also reported that the Houthis blocked a road on Sunday connecting Shabwa with Al-Bayda province, which is under their control. The move has heightened concerns about further military operations in the area.
Houthi Account of the Attack
The Houthi news agency Saba, citing a military source, said Al-Alam camp was targeted because personnel it described as enemies of Saudi Arabia had gathered there. The source reported that dozens were killed or wounded in the strike.
The attack comes amid escalating hostilities between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Fighting has intensified following the collapse of a ceasefire that had held for several years.
Government Forces Launch Counteroffensive
Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces launched a counteroffensive aimed at retaking Houthi-controlled areas along the Red Sea coast. The Houthis had seized those areas in September, according to the report.
Last month, Houthi fighters made rapid advances along the coast, forcing government forces to withdraw from their positions.
Strategic Energy Infrastructure at Risk
Shabwa is an important centre of Yemen’s oil and gas resources. The province is also home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas terminal, one of the country’s most significant energy facilities and economic assets.
The escalation in fighting in such a strategically important region has increased concerns within government circles over the potential impact on security and critical infrastructure.
Rising Tensions Between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia
Tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have also increased. According to the report, the Houthis carried out several attacks on Riyadh’s airport, including an attack earlier this month.
That attack reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300, making it the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
The report said a fragile ceasefire established in 2022 broke down in July after the Houthis allowed an Iranian aircraft to land in Sanaa despite Saudi objections over Riyadh’s airspace control.
The Houthis subsequently announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and began targeting Saudi vessels, territory and oil facilities.
The latest missile strike in Shabwa underscores the growing risk of further escalation in Yemen, particularly in areas of strategic importance to the country’s energy sector.
