Shabwa: At least 58 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a Houthi missile attack on a military camp in southern Yemen, as fighting intensifies across the country. The attack took place on Monday, October 19, at the Al Alam camp in Shabwa province, where government security forces were training new recruits. Fourteen people were also reported missing.
Shabwa Governor Awad al Wazir said the death toll had risen to 58, while more than 200 people had been injured. The figures increased from an initial report of at least 18 deaths to 53 as authorities assessed the casualties. The final toll remains uncertain.
According to Yemeni government and medical sources, three ballistic missiles struck the camp during morning training activities. The strike killed and injured dozens of people at the facility. Emergency response efforts followed the attack as authorities dealt with the high number of casualties.
The Houthi movement acknowledged carrying out the attack. Its military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the group had targeted the camp and claimed that it was operated by Saudi forces. However, the claim about Saudi military involvement at the facility has not been independently verified.
Saudi authorities had not immediately responded to a request for comment. It also remained unclear whether any Saudi military personnel were among those killed or injured.
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al Alimi promised a firm response to the attack. The council leads the internationally recognised government, which has been fighting the Houthi movement for years with support from Saudi Arabia and its allies.
The attack comes amid a renewed escalation of fighting in Yemen after a period of relative calm. Government forces and Houthi fighters have been engaged in clashes across several parts of the country, raising concerns about a further deterioration in security.
On October 9, United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned the Security Council that the country had returned to full scale war. He reported an escalation of military activity across several fronts, including fighting around Taiz and Lahj, as well as Houthi advances towards areas near Mokha and the Bab al Mandab Strait.
Government forces have also launched operations to regain territory. The renewed fighting has increased concerns that the conflict could spread further and undermine efforts to reach a political settlement.
The Bab al Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international shipping. Increased military activity near the passage could have wider implications for regional security and global trade. However, there was no confirmed indication that the attack on the Al Alam camp had directly disrupted shipping.
Shabwa province also has economic importance because it is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas facility, one of Yemen's major industrial investments. Continued instability in the region could complicate efforts to restore economic activity and improve security.
Yemen's conflict intensified in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. Years of fighting have contributed to widespread displacement, economic hardship and a serious humanitarian crisis.
A truce brokered by the United Nations in 2022 helped reduce major fighting and raised hopes for a political settlement. However, renewed military operations and clashes across several regions have weakened those hopes.
The latest attack in Shabwa highlights the human cost of the renewed conflict. With dozens reported dead, hundreds injured and 14 people missing, the strike represents a major escalation in the fighting.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as casualty assessments continue. The final death toll, the circumstances surrounding the missing personnel and the government's response to the attack remain unclear.