The Yemen-based Houthi movement, which Iran has long been accused of supporting, said it used “a large number of ballistic missiles and drones” in attacks on military sites in the Ruwaik, Al-Abr and Al Thaniyah areas and other bases. In a claim about strikes in the Marib and Hadramout regions issued by Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree, the operation was described as a “large-scale, targeted military operation” that caused “destruction and fires at many” military facilities in eastern Yemen and resulted in “hundreds” of casualties — both dead and wounded — among “Saudi enemy mercenaries.”

The Houthis said they targeted government positions in response to what they described as a reported Saudi military buildup supporting Yemeni government forces. They accused the Gulf monarchy of preparing a “massive military reinforcement” in anticipation of operations. The statement added that, “therefore, our armed forces carried out a large-scale, targeted military operation striking concentrations of Saudi enemy troops.”

Saudi-owned satellite broadcaster al-Arabiya, citing military sources, reported a toll of at least 45 government fighters killed in Houthi strikes on military sites in Marib and Hadramout. Al Jazeera relayed local media reports citing at least 30 fatalities from attacks in the two provinces. Medical sources quoted by AFP reported 38 dead and 29 wounded among Yemeni soldiers.

US condemnation

In a statement posted on the US Embassy in Yemen’s X account, the attacks were condemned as “vile” and identified as another example of Houthi terrorism aided by Iran. The US mission in Yemen offered condolences to the families of the Yemeni soldiers killed in Hadramout and Marib and wished a speedy recovery to those wounded.

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