53 Killed, 200 Injured in Houthi Attack on Saudi-backed Forces in Yemen

By Nasiru Hassan

At least 53 people have been killed and 200 others injured following Ansarullah Houthi fighters attack on a Saudi-backed forces training camp in Yemen’s Shabwa province, according to local authorities.

According to Reuters, the attack occurred on Monday, October 19, amid escalating hostilities between the Ansarullah Houthis and the internationally recognized forces, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

Local sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Ansarullah Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at security personnel during a training exercise.

Footage verified by Reuters from the province showed injured victims and bloodied bodies scattered across the ground following the strike.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed the group’s involvement in the attack in a post on X, claiming that the targeted training facility was operated by Saudi forces. Saudi authorities had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

Shabwa, located in south-central coastal Yemen and overlooking the Gulf of Aden, is an energy-rich province that hosts the Balhaf liquefied natural gas facility, the country’s largest industrial investment.

The latest attack comes as forces backed by Saudi Arabia and West intensify efforts to recover territories held by the Ansarullah Houthis who are allegedly backed by Iran including areas near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major international shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have also maintained a siege around Taiz, a major urban centre held by Western-backed forces in Yemen’s southern highlands.

The conflict has increasingly become linked to the wider confrontation involving the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States and Israel, as the Houthis have stepped up attacks against Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude oil exporter. Targets have reportedly included Riyadh’s international airport and the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco. Ansarullah has vowed to continue launching attacks on Saudi military forces and assets, including airports, military barracks, and the state-owned oil company Aramco, in retaliation for attacks carried out by the Saudi-led coalition against them.

Yemen’s war began in 2014 when the Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognised government to relocate south. A Saudi-led military intervention followed in 2015, resulting in years of intense fighting and a prolonged stalemate.

A truce agreed by the warring parties in 2022 helped reduce hostilities, but the relative calm has since given way to renewed fighting.

The latest escalation threatens to worsen conditions in Yemen, which remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Aid organisations have continued to warn of deteriorating conditions and growing humanitarian needs across the country.