Houthis kill at least 45 soldiers in deadliest Yemen attack since 2022

At least 45 Yemeni government soldiers were killed and 50 wounded in a large attack by Iran-backed Houthis on military camps in Marib and Hadramawt provinces. The death toll may rise. The province of Marib is a stronghold held by forces opposing the Houthis, containing the country's only gas and one of its largest oil fields. Its fall could provide the Houthis with significant economic and military advantages.

The province of Hadramawt is a central battleground between Saudi-backed government forces and UAE-backed southern separatists. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they called Saudi military buildup areas. They said hundreds of "Saudi fighters" were killed or wounded and that camps, weapons depots, and military vehicles were damaged.

The attack marks one of the deadliest escalations in Yemen since a ceasefire in April 2022, which froze front lines but did not end the civil war. The U.S. condemned the attack as terrorism against Yemeni people. Relations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia have deteriorated, with Houthi threats against Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and Saudi allegations that Houthi missiles hit their oil tankers. Yemeni forces and regional powers are preparing for possible military responses.