Houthi Ballistic Missile and Drone Attacks Kill 17 Yemeni Soldiers

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO/Yemeni Houthi forces/DOK via WIkimedia Commons

YEMEN - The Yemeni military said as many as 17 Yemeni soldiers and officers were killed and several others were injured in a Houthi group attack involving ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones.

The Joint Operations Command of the Yemeni Armed Forces said the attack targeted forces carrying out operations to combat terrorism, organized crime, and arms and drug smuggling networks to the Houthi group.

Yemen's leadership ordered a number of measures to prevent similar attacks and provide a preventive response, according to the statement, without providing further details.

The latest death toll was announced a day after the government's Emergency Forces reported casualties and material damage as a result of Houthi attacks on a number of camps and military units, without specifying the number of casualties.

Local media reported that the attack targeted government forces in the central Marib governorate and eastern Hadramawt.

The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attack. The group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the Houthis launched a "large-scale" operation against Saudi-backed forces in Al-Ruwaik, Al-Abr, and Al-Thaniyah, as well as a number of other military camps.

Saree said the attack involved a large number of ballistic missiles and drones.

The attack comes amid sporadic fighting on several fronts in Yemen since early July, which has killed and wounded dozens of people on both sides.

Yemen has experienced a relative lull in fighting since April 2022. The war has lasted for more than 11 years, between government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi groups.

The Houthis have controlled the capital Sanaa and a number of other areas in the country since September 21, 2014.