Yemen’s fragile calm up in smoke as Houthi strikes kill 58 troops

Yemen’s fragile calm shattered Thursday as Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched coordinated missile and drone attacks that killed at least 58 government troops, marking one of the deadliest days in the country’s civil war in nearly four years. The violence unfolded amid escalating tensions between Yemen and the United States-Israel alliance, with the Houthis intensifying their assaults on government forces and neighboring Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The attacks targeted multiple locations, including troop camps in central and southern Yemen, with reports indicating that one missile struck troops during morning formation at a base in Marib province, killing and wounding at least 45 personnel. Additional strikes hit positions in Al-Abr and Al-Wadiah in Hadramawt province, close to the Saudi border. A military source, speaking under anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed the scale of the casualties, noting that the attacks represented Yemen’s deadliest since 2022. Medical sources initially reported 38 deaths, but the figure was later revised upward. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the attacks were retaliation for a perceived military buildup supported by Saudi Arabia. He listed several targeted areas, including Al-Ruwaik, Al-Thaniyah, and Al-Abr, and warned that the rebels were prepared to escalate further if necessary. The Houthis have long framed their actions as defensive, arguing that they are responding to aggression from Saudi-backed forces and international allies. The violence spilled over into Saudi territory, with Saudi officials reporting that Houthi attacks wounded 11 civilians in the southern Najran region. Among the injured were seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians, and one Pakistani, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki condemned the attacks as “indiscriminate shelling against civilian objects” and vowed that coalition forces would continue protecting civilians through necessary measures. Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s government since 2015, has intensified its efforts to counter Houthi advances. The kingdom is reportedly set to sign a joint defense agreement with Türkiye and Pakistan in Jeddah on Friday, as part of growing regional defense coordination in response to the ongoing crisis. This move underscores the deepening entanglement of Yemen in broader Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly following the outbreak of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran in February. The Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, have escalated their attacks since late January, following the collapse of a 2022 truce brokered by the United Nations. The breakdown occurred after the rebels seized an Iranian aircraft in Sanaa, prompting retaliatory strikes and the imposition of a maritime blockade on Saudi ports. The group has also begun targeting Saudi oil tankers, further inflaming regional tensions. In recent weeks, the Houthis have conducted several high-profile attacks, including one that killed 16 troops in an assault on government-aligned forces near the port city of Hodeida. These incidents reflect the continued volatility of the conflict, despite the relative stability maintained by the 2022 ceasefire. While the truce technically expired this year, both sides have largely adhered to its terms, though sporadic clashes have persisted. As the situation escalates, Yemen’s government has pledged to respond to the latest attacks “at the appropriate place and time,” signaling a potential shift toward renewed open conflict. With the Houthis demonstrating increasing capability and resolve, the risk of further destabilization in the region appears heightened, raising urgent concerns about the humanitarian fallout and the future trajectory of the protracted war.