At least 20 Yemeni government soldiers have been killed and more than two dozen others injured after Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile attack on a military camp in southern Yemen, according to Yemeni military officials cited by The Associated Press. The attack occurred on Monday, October 19, 2026, amid a renewed escalation in the country’s prolonged conflict.
The missiles struck the al-Alam military camp in Shabwa province, targeting forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The incident is among the deadliest attacks reported during the latest surge in fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and government forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
Ballistic Missiles Hit Military Training Camp
According to Yemeni military officials, the attack wounded at least two dozen troops, with many of the casualties reportedly involving newly recruited soldiers.
Colonel Majed al-Nazili, a Yemeni military spokesperson, confirmed that the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at a training centre used by police and security personnel. However, he did not publicly confirm the number of casualties.
The military officials who provided details about the death toll spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to brief the media.
The al-Alam camp is located in the Jardan district, north of Ataq, the provincial capital. The site was previously used by a militia backed by the United Arab Emirates and is situated along a route connecting the area to the government-controlled province of Marib.
The location is strategically important because it provides access to supply routes used by government forces operating in the region.
Yemen’s Conflict Intensifies as Ceasefire Collapses
The latest strike comes amid a broader resurgence of violence in Yemen, where fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government has intensified in recent weeks.
The escalation has undermined the relative calm established under a 2022 ceasefire agreement, which had significantly reduced fighting during Yemen’s civil war.
The renewed hostilities have also unfolded against the backdrop of wider regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and their respective regional partners.
The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the country’s north, have continued launching attacks against government-held positions and Saudi interests. Meanwhile, government forces have pursued operations to recover territory controlled by the rebels.
Earlier this month, Houthi forces also targeted the presidential palace complex in Aden, the interim seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, in an attack that killed security personnel.
Civilian Casualties Reported in Separate Airstrikes
The violence has also affected civilians. On Sunday, Yemen’s Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that an airstrike attributed to Saudi-led forces killed at least nine people in the rebel-controlled northern province of Saada. The reported victims included five children and two women.
Saudi Arabia had not immediately commented on that reported strike, according to The Associated Press.
The separate incidents highlight the growing risks to civilians and military personnel as the conflict spreads across different parts of Yemen.
Concerns Grow Over Renewed Fighting
The attack on the al-Alam camp underscores the fragility of Yemen’s security situation and the challenges facing efforts to restore stability.
With government forces attempting to regain territory and the Houthis continuing missile attacks, further confrontations could deepen the country’s humanitarian crisis and disrupt already vulnerable communities.
For now, the full extent of the damage from Monday’s attack remains unclear, while the reported casualty figures may be updated as more information becomes available.
Swifteradio.com
