A devastating ballistic missile strike launched by the Houthi movement has reportedly left dozens of military personnel dead and wounded at the al-Alam military camp in southern Yemen's Shabwa governorate. Yemeni government sources confirmed that three missiles hit the facility during a routine training exercise, causing catastrophic casualties among the stationed troops.

Officials from the internationally recognized administration and local medical personnel stated that at least 18 individuals lost their lives, while more than 30 others sustained serious injuries. The deputy governor of Shabwa put the overall casualty figure at 40 or higher, though a precise breakdown of the deceased remains unverified. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, claimed that the victims were primarily new recruits, vehemently promising a severe response to what he termed a desperate terrorist escalation.

The incident unfolds amid a sharp deterioration in the protracted Yemeni civil war, which has seen intensified fighting since the Houthis seized vital territory along the Red Sea coast. In response to these territorial losses, government forces backed by regional allies launched counter-offensive measures, further entrenching the cycle of violence across the impoverished nation.

Meanwhile, Houthi military spokespersons openly claimed responsibility for the assault, asserting that the camp served as a logistical hub for foreign-backed forces. Houthi representatives allegedly warned that any installations associated with their opponents would continue to be treated as legitimate targets, dimming any prospects for an immediate de-escalation.

Source: www.aljazeera.com