The deadliest Houthi attack in years: dozens of soldiers killed in Yemen
The war in Yemen is heating up: Iran-backed rebels launched missiles and drones at military camps in Marib and Hadramaut, at least 45 soldiers were killed and dozens more wounded. The Houthis claimed they attacked concentrations of Saudi forces, after having already declared a "maritime blockade" against Riyadh and announced they had bombed oil tankers: "We are ready to deal with any escalation."
At least 45 soldiers belonging to the government forces in Yemen were killed on Thursday, and at least 50 others were wounded, in a large-scale attack by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on military camps in the center and east of the country. Government officials state that the death toll could still rise.
The attacks were directed against bases in the provinces of Marib and Hadramaut, which are under the control of the internationally recognized government. The Yemeni army confirmed there were casualties in its ranks but did not provide official figures. The Minister of Health ordered hospitals and medical facilities in both provinces to raise their alert level and prepare to receive additional wounded.
Marib is no longer just a front-line province: it is considered one of the main strongholds remaining in the hands of the camp opposing the Houthis in northern Yemen, and it contains the country's only gas field and one of its largest oil fields. Its fall or the weakening of forces in the area could give the Houthis a significant economic and military advantage. Hadramaut, on the other hand, is the largest province in Yemen and a central arena in the power struggles between the government supported by Saudi Arabia and the southern separatists supported by the UAE.
The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they launched ballistic missiles and drones at what they described as concentrations of Saudi forces in the areas of Al-Ruwaik, Al-Abr, and Al-Thaniya. According to the organization, "hundreds of fighters" identified with Saudi Arabia were killed or wounded, and damage was caused to camps, weapons depots, and military vehicles. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said that "we are ready to deal with any escalation."
This attack is considered one of the deadliest escalations inside Yemen since the entry into force of an unofficial ceasefire in April 2022. The US condemned the attack, calling it another example of the terror perpetrated by the Houthis against the Yemeni people.
The blockade at sea and the attack on land
The civil war in Yemen broke out in 2014, after the Houthis took over the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the north, forcing the government into exile. Saudi Arabia established a military coalition the following year intended to return the government to power. Today's attack comes after weeks of renewed deterioration in relations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Last month, the rebels declared a "maritime blockade" against the kingdom in the Red Sea in response to what they call the Saudi blockade of Yemen. Riyadh rejects the claim and accuses the Houthis of attempting to disrupt international shipping and its oil exports. According to a Reuters report, the Houthis are considering charging a fee from most ships passing through the southern Red Sea, discussing the establishment of a collection mechanism with Iranian representatives.
Data from the company Kpler indicated an abnormal drop in ship traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait: yesterday only one merchant ship passed through it, compared to 20 the previous day. Bab el-Mandeb, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is one of the most important trade routes in the world. About 12% of global trade and a quarter of container traffic usually pass through the strait. Damage to shipping in the area could force companies to go around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing transport costs.
The Yemeni arm is expanding into Iraq
In the shadow of the escalation, it was reported last week that Saudi Arabia is concentrating forces in anticipation of a potential naval or ground operation against the Houthis in central Yemen. Riyadh is working in parallel to establish a naval coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb.
The escalation is no longer limited to the territory of Yemen. According to Saudi and regional estimates, the Houthis have participated in attacks against Saudi Arabia launched from Iraqi territory, in cooperation with pro-Iranian militias under the supervision of the Revolutionary Guards. The existence of a permanent Houthi representation in Iraq and the establishment of a joint operations room with armed factions indicate that the organization is gradually turning into an active part of a regional network capable of attacking from several fronts.
