Houthi offensive in Marib kills 10, raising fears of renewed Yemen war
Coordinated missile and drone strikes on Marib city kill eight government soldiers and two civilians, marking the latest escalation following the collapse of a 2022 truce.
Houthi rebels launched coordinated missile and drone attacks on Marib province on Friday, killing at least ten people and wounding dozens more in what officials describe as a significant escalation of the conflict. The strikes targeted the Sahn al-Jinn military camp and residential areas, including displacement camps, in Marib city, resulting in the deaths of eight members of the Yemeni government forces and two civilians.
The violence follows a deadly incident on Thursday where at least 58 government troops were killed, marking one of the deadliest single incidents between the opposing sides in years. According to a Yemeni military source, the Houthi forces fired more than 10 missiles and seven one-way attack drones at military camps in the province. Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh confirmed that shelling had hit residential neighbourhoods, causing further civilian casualties.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the assault, stating that the group had targeted government arsenals, vehicles, and military equipment at the Sahn al-Jinn camp. The rebels described the operation as a response to what they termed a mobilisation by Saudi-backed forces, asserting that the strikes were designed to disrupt enemy logistics and defensive positions.
Strategic control of Marib remains a critical flashpoint, as the oil-rich province is split between Houthi forces and the Yemeni government, which retains control of the city and its vital energy facilities. A source close to the Saudi military told AFP that the Saudi-led coalition, which has supported the Yemeni government since 2015, considers Marib a "red line." The source warned that the coalition would not allow the current balance of power on the ground to change, although it stated it does not seek further escalation.
The resurgence of hostilities in Marib raises concerns of a return to full-scale war following the collapse of a nationwide truce agreed in 2022. The truce had largely held until it unraveled last month, after which the Houthis resumed offensive operations in patterns similar to those seen in 2021. The conflict has increasingly become entangled in broader regional tensions, with the Iran-backed group recently welcoming an Iranian plane to Sanaa and announcing a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia.
