Houthi missile attack on Yemen camp reportedly kills 53

A Houthi missile attack on the al-Alam military training camp in Yemen's Shabwa province killed at least 53 people and injured more than 200, the Associated Press reported, citing Yemeni officials. Most of those killed were recruits. The Guardian reported the same later toll, describing it as one of the deadliest single attacks in the country's renewed fighting.

Al Jazeera's initial report carried a lower count of at least 18 dead and more than 30 injured, illustrating how casualty figures changed as authorities assessed the site and hospitals received patients. The latest total remains provisional. The Houthis claimed responsibility and said Saudi officers were at the camp, but that assertion had not been independently verified.

Shabwa is controlled by forces opposed to the Houthis and sits near energy infrastructure and routes linking southern and central Yemen. The strike follows an escalation that has included Houthi attacks on shipping and targets beyond Yemen, alongside counterstrikes by regional and Western forces. The confirmed claim of responsibility does not establish every detail about the target or those present. Independent access is limited, so identities, the final casualty count and the military status of all victims require further verification.