Houthi missile attacks kill 58 Saudi-backed Yemeni govt forces

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthis have carried out a series of missile and drone attacks on government positions, resulting in at least 58 troops killed and dozens injured, according to a military source. The attacks occurred in response to a purported Saudi military buildup, escalating tensions in the already volatile region. The Houthis have ramped up provocations against Saudi forces since last month, further exacerbating the Middle East conflict that emerged following the US-Iran war on February 28.

The rebels targeted three military camps in central Yemen, including Marib and Hadramawt provinces, near the Saudi border. One missile attack during a morning formation in Marib killed and injured at least 45 personnel, while other attacks in Al-Ruwaik and Al-Thaniyah areas reportedly killed and injured dozens more. The Houthis have warned they are prepared to confront any escalation.

Yemen, which has been embroiled in a war since 2014, has become a new battleground for the Middle East conflict involving Iran and Saudi Arabia. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and a major humanitarian crisis. The rebels currently control Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and much of the northern region, while the government governs the southern part of the country. The fighting had been relatively frozen since a UN-negotiated truce in 2022, which remained in place despite its expiration.