Houthi attacks on Yemeni government forces kill at least 30

DEVELOPING STORY, Deadly attacks on government military camps in Hadramout and Marib marks the fiercest military escalation in Yemen since 2022.Yemen’s Houthi rebels have killed at least 30 government soldiers and injured 15 in missile attacks on Yemeni military camps in Hadramout and Marib governorates, government sources told Al Jazeera.Thursday’s attacks on military camps, including some run by Yemen’s Emergency Forces, are the deadliest for years in the country’s civil war and continue the increase in violence seen in recent weeks.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why is Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif visiting Saudi Arabia amid Gulf tensions?list 2 of 3Why are US Republicans losing faith in War Secretary Pete Hegseth?list 3 of 3Iran, Oman, US ‘close’ to Hormuz deal: What do they all want?end of listHouthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the attacks, using missiles and drones, led to “hundreds” of casualties.The Yemeni military confirmed the attacks, framing them as a response to their own attacks on the Houthis.Yemeni military sources said that the Houthis fired eight missiles from al-Jawf governorate, north of Marib, targeting al-Thiniya and al-Abr in Hadramout and al-Rouk in Marib.The sources said casualty numbers were expected to rise.Fighting in Yemen between the pro-Iranian Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has intensified in recent weeks, after four years of relative calm.The Houthis also announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and have attacked ships linked to Yemen’s northern neighbour.Yemen’s latest war began in 2014, when the Houthis took the Yemeni capital Sanaa. A military intervention from a Saudi-led coalition began the following year, but has been unable to fully defeat the Houthis.Increased attacksSaree said that Thursday’s attack followed “military build-ups” by Saudi-backed government forces, “aimed at escalating the conflict”.Both the Houthis and the government have mobilised their forces in recent weeks, with clashes in western and central Yemen.