Houthi missile strike on Yemen military camp kills at least 50

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 19 Oct, 17:38 · Archive

Houthi forces fired three ballistic missiles at a military training camp in Yemen's Shabwa province, killing at least 50 recruits and wounding over 200.

Houthi forces fired three ballistic missiles at the al-Alam military camp in Shabwa province, southern Yemen, on Monday during a training exercise. Authorities reported at least 50 to 53 people killed and over 200 wounded, mostly young recruits. The Shabwa deputy governor said local hospitals were overwhelmed, with some seriously wounded transferred to facilities in other provinces.

The attack represents one of the deadliest strikes since fighting escalated sharply in September. Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, said those killed were new recruits to a Rapid Intervention force intended to defend the local area. He condemned what he called a 'criminal attack' and promised a 'firm response'. Al-Alimi also telephoned UN Secretary General António Guterres to request the UN classify the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation.

The Houthis confirmed responsibility for the attack. Their military spokesman said they had targeted 'Saudi enemy concentrations', referring to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces stationed at military camps across the country. The group stated they would continue to target such bases.

Yemen's civil war has intensified since mid-September, when the Iran-backed Houthis seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast. Saudi-backed government forces responded with a counteroffensive and launched the 'Dawn of Yemen' operation, aiming to recapture Houthi-held territory including the capital Sanaa. Fighting continues across multiple provinces, with the Houthis also launching missiles and drones at targets in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

How it is being reported

• Houthi missile strike on Yemen camp kills 50 security recruits, local authorities sayThree missiles hit a camp in government-controlled Shabwa province that officials say was being used as a training centre for new recruits.BBC World · 19 Oct, 17:20
• Houthi attack kills 53 in biggest single loss of life since Yemen civil war reignitedMore than 200 mostly young people said to be injured after ballistic missile attack on training camp for government forces At least 53 people have been killed in a Houthi ballistic missile attack on a training camp for Yemeni government forces in the largest single loss of life since the country’s civil war reignited in September. The attack on the al-Alam camp in Shabwa province, southern Yemen, was said to have injured more than 200 others, mostly young recruits, and described as a disaster by the country’s UN-recognised government. The injured were taken from the police and army training…The Guardian · 19 Oct, 16:25
• Houthi strike on Yemen government military camp kills at least 50The Iran-backed group has claimed responsibility for the attack which killed new recruits at a military camp. The strikes follow deadly attacks over the weekend blamed on Saudi-led forces.DW News · 19 Oct, 15:39
• Dozens killed after Houthi strike on military camp in ShabwaDozens of Yemenis are feared dead after a Houthi strike targeted a military camp in Yemen’s Shabwa governorate.Al Jazeera · 19 Oct, 14:26
• At least 18 killed in Houthi attack on military camp in Yemen’s ShabwaHouthis launch ballistic missiles at camp in southern governorate during training exercise, gov't forces spokesman says.Al Jazeera · 19 Oct, 13:51

In this story: Houthis · Yemen · Shabwa · Rashad al-Alimi · Saudi Arabia · Sanaa

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem