The Middle East war has taken a new turn. On Thursday, Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a major attack on the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. International news agencies claim that 30 Yemeni soldiers were killed in the attack. Another 50 were seriously injured. This is believed to be the Houthis’ biggest attack on the Yemeni army since 2022. There are fears that the death toll may rise. The Houthi group has also warned that the security guards will not be able to survive if they do not leave the area.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government said that attacks were launched against military bases in Marib and Hadramaut provinces. The Iran-backed Shiite rebel group Houthi has already claimed responsibility for the attacks. Houthi Brigadier General Yahya Sari said that ballistic missiles and drone attacks were launched against Saudi-backed military bases in the Al-Ruwaiq, Al-Abar and Al-Thaniyah areas. The attack killed more than a hundred fighters. The American mission in Yemen condemned the attack. They said the Houthis’ attack was “another example of their terrorism against the Yemeni people.”
Incidentally, the Houthis captured the capital Sanaa in 2014 and forced the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since then. The pro-Iranian group declared war on Israel after the conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. At that time, they launched missile and drone attacks on Israel. On the other hand, the Saudi-backed Yemeni army has been fighting the rebel group since 2015. Minor clashes continued. On Thursday night, the rebel group launched a major missile and drone attack.
It is worth noting that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces deployed in West Asia launched a military operation against the Houthis earlier this year. The Saudi-backed Sunni Muslim government in Yemen has also launched a series of operations against the Shiite rebel group Houthis. Despite this, parts of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, are still under the control of the Houthis. In this situation, the possibility of a counterattack against the Shiite rebel group is high. Peace in the Middle East is currently elusive.