Houthi Missile Strike on Yemen Military Camp Kills at Least 53, Injures 200

At least 53 people have been killed and about 200 others injured after Houthi rebels launched a missile attack on a military training camp in southern Yemen, according to authorities in Shabwa province.

The attack occurred on Monday, October 19, at the al-Alam military camp in the Jardan district, where newly recruited personnel were undergoing training for security and internal security duties. The Shabwa provincial government said three ballistic missiles were fired at the facility.

The casualties were among recruits preparing to join a newly established security force. One military official said the missiles struck as personnel were assembling for a training session.

However, reports from news organisations gave different casualty figures. Reuters initially reported at least 18 deaths based on information from government and medical sources, while Agence France-Presse reported more than 30 people killed and at least 70 wounded. The Associated Press later reported the higher toll of 53 dead and about 200 injured, citing provincial authorities. The death toll remains preliminary and could rise.

The Shabwa provincial government condemned the strike, describing it as a serious escalation and calling for improved air-defence and early-warning systems to protect the province. It also directed public and private health facilities to treat the injured and transfer critically wounded patients to specialised units where necessary.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, promised a firm response to the attack. The Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of northern Yemen, have acknowledged targeting the camp, according to the Associated Press.

The strike comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition. The escalation has intensified in recent weeks as government forces have sought to recapture territory controlled by the rebels, including areas near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major shipping passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Yemen’s conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, prompting the internationally recognised government to retreat south. A Saudi-led military intervention followed in 2015. A truce reached in 2022 largely reduced fighting for a period, but renewed hostilities have since undermined that relative calm.

The latest attack adds to the worsening security situation in a country already facing a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Further details about the full extent of the damage and the final casualty toll are expected as authorities continue assessing the aftermath.