Escalation in Yemen: Houthi Attacks on Government Troops

In central and eastern Yemen, Houthi rebels launched attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least 30 government troops and injuries to over 50 others, according to Yemeni government officials. A Houthi leader reported that the assaults targeted Saudi-backed troops, claiming that “hundreds” were either killed or injured.

The offensive struck camps belonging to forces of the internationally recognized government in Marib and Hadramout provinces, as stated by Yemeni officials who wished to remain unnamed due to not being authorized to speak to the media.

This marks a significant escalation since a ceasefire established in April 2022, which had paused major confrontations between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

The Yemeni army confirmed attacks on its camps but did not disclose specific casualty figures. Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attacks using ballistic missiles and drones. He alleged that these were retaliatory strikes against Saudi-backed forces massing in eastern Yemen.

He expressed that the strikes inflicted casualties on “hundreds of Saudi enemy mercenaries” and resulted in the destruction of camps and military resources. Saree urged vigilance among Yemenis against any Saudi aggression and called for action against Saudi troop concentrations.

The U.S. mission to Yemen extended condolences to the affected families in Hadramout and Marib. It condemned the Houthi attacks as “another example of their terrorism against the Yemeni people.”

The conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, prompting the government to flee to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore the government, but the conflict has since stalled into a proxy war without any decisive victory.

The Houthis argue that their recent escalations, such as a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, are retaliatory measures against the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen since 2015.