Sanaa, 07 August (H.S.):

At least 30 to 45 Yemeni soldiers were killed in a major attack carried out by Houthi (Ansar Allah) rebels on Thursday. The Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at government military positions in the provinces of Marib and Hadramout. More than 50 soldiers were reportedly injured in the strikes, while the Houthis claimed that the number of government troops killed ran into the hundreds.

The Houthi movement is an armed political and military group based primarily among Yemen's Zaidi Shia population in the country's north. It is widely regarded as being backed by Iran. The United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have designated the Houthis as a terrorist organisation.

According to the latest reports from Yemen's state-run Saba News Agency on X and Al Jazeera, government officials said the death toll had risen to more than 45. The attack is being described as the deadliest escalation in Yemen since the April 2022 ceasefire. Fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces has continued for years, with the Houthis significantly expanding their influence in recent years.

Reports said the rebels fired eight ballistic missiles along with drones at government military camps, causing widespread devastation and panic inside the installations.

Initial reports indicated that around 30 soldiers had been killed. Later updates placed the death toll at approximately 38, with officials warning that the number could rise further. The Houthis have officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

Government officials said more than 50 wounded soldiers had been admitted to nearby hospitals, with several reported to be in critical condition. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the operation, carried out at around 2:00 p.m. local time, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of government soldiers. He also claimed that the strikes inflicted heavy damage on military camps, weapons depots and military vehicles.

The Yemeni armed forces confirmed the attacks. According to military sources, the Houthis launched eight missiles from Al-Jawf province, north of Marib, causing heavy casualties and extensive destruction. Officials warned that the casualty toll could increase.

The Houthis targeted camps belonging to Yemen's Homeland Shield Forces, Emergency Forces and the First Military Region in Hadramout. The Homeland Shield Forces were established in 2022 with Saudi support and are responsible for securing the Marib-Hadramout corridor and the Saudi border.

Earlier this year, the force was involved in fighting against troops affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council. The Emergency Forces were formed in late 2025 under a presidential decree and under the supervision of the Saudi-led coalition. The unit is tasked with defending ground borders in Al-Jawf and Hadramout while confronting Houthi forces directly.

The command of the First Emergency Division stated that the number of casualties could rise further because a large number of soldiers had assembled at the camps for training exercises when the attack occurred.

The office of Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, confirmed the attack and said the situation was being closely monitored around the clock.

Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the coalition forces, expressed his deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the fallen soldiers in a post on X. The United States Embassy in Yemen also condemned the strikes as a cowardly attack and extended its condolences to the families of the Yemeni soldiers killed in the assault.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar