Key facts
- At least 38 Yemeni government troops were killed and 29 injured in Houthi missile and drone attacks on military camps in Marib and Hadramout.
- The attacks are described as the deadliest since the 2022 UN-brokered truce.
- The Houthis claimed responsibility, stating the attacks were retaliation for alleged Saudi military build-ups.
- The US embassy in Yemen condemned the attacks as 'cowardly' and 'terrorism'.
- The Saudi military coalition stated it would not 'stand idly by' in response to the escalating attacks.
At least 38 members of Yemen's internationally recognized government forces were killed and 29 others wounded in missile and drone attacks carried out by Houthis on Thursday. Military officials described the assault as the deadliest since the 2022 UN-brokered truce, indicating a potential escalation in the country's protracted conflict.
The Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they were in retaliation for alleged Saudi military build-ups. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted government military positions with ballistic missiles and drones in areas including al-Ruwaik, al-Thaniyah, and al-Abr. The Yemeni defence ministry condemned the attacks and vowed a response.
The US embassy in Yemen denounced the Houthi actions as "cowardly" and "terrorism." Meanwhile, the Saudi military coalition stated it would not "stand idly by" in response to the escalating Houthi attacks and would not allow the balance of power to change.
The Houthis have increased military operations since the start of the US-Iran war earlier this year, ending a period of relative calm that followed the 2022 truce. The renewed hostilities intensified after the Houthis declared the end of the country's de-escalation phase on July 12, alleging Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport.