Houthi missile strike on southern Yemen camp kills at least 20 troops

What happened in Shabwa

Houthi forces fired at least three ballistic missiles at a government military camp in southern Yemen on Monday, killing at least 20 fighters and wounding more than two dozen others.

The strikes targeted the al-Alam military training facility in Shabwa province, where troops affiliated with Yemen's internationally recognised government and the Saudi-backed coalition were stationed. Military officials said the bombardment destroyed equipment and caused heavy casualties across the camp's grounds.

The assault is among the deadliest single incidents in southern Yemen since renewed fighting effectively dissolved a 2022 UN-brokered truce that had largely frozen major frontlines in the civil war.

Escalating clashes across multiple fronts

The strike in Shabwa follows a series of sharp military actions across several Yemeni provinces over recent days, reflecting a broader breakdown in local ceasefires.

In the northern province of Saada, a rebel stronghold, Houthi health officials said a coalition airstrike over the weekend killed nine people, including five children and two women. Rebel authorities stated that broader coalition strikes over the weekend resulted in more than 30 casualties.

Further west in Taiz governorate, Yemeni government troops reported capturing the area of Sanamat and advancing towards Misrakh following counteroffensive operations against Houthi forces. Houthi troops have continued attempts to encircle Taiz city, where local officials accused the group of blocking water deliveries, and the United Nations warned that basic food supplies are running critically low.

Wider regional fallout

The surge in domestic hostilities comes as broader regional friction involving Iran, the United States, and Israel continues to destabilise security across the Middle East. Yemeni military officials noted that the intensified fighting in the south coincides with rising alerts along regional trade routes.

Diplomatic efforts to restore the 2022 truce remain stalled as both sides expand offensive operations along key internal frontlines.