MARIB, Yemen — Houthi forces launched coordinated missile and drone attacks on Saudi-backed military positions in Yemen, killing dozens of government troops, while a separate strike wounded civilians in southern Saudi Arabia, marking one of the deadliest escalations since a U.N.-brokered truce unraveled and heightening fears of a wider regional conflict.
Yemeni military officials said the attacks targeted camps belonging to government-aligned National Shield forces in the provinces of Marib and Hadramout. Casualty figures released by officials indicated that more than 50 soldiers were killed and many others wounded, although authorities said the toll could rise as rescue operations and medical evacuations continued.
Saudi authorities said another Houthi missile and drone attack struck the kingdom's southern Najran region, injuring 11 civilians. Officials said emergency services treated the wounded and assessed damage to civilian infrastructure.
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the operations, describing them as retaliation for military actions by Saudi-backed forces and what it called continued pressure on Houthi-controlled territory. The group's statements could not be independently verified.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks and said they demonstrated the continuing threat posed by Houthi missile and drone capabilities. Riyadh has repeatedly accused Iran of providing military support to the Houthis, an allegation Tehran has denied.
The latest violence comes as regional tensions have intensified following months of confrontation involving Iran, its allied armed groups, and the United States and its partners. Saudi officials have warned of possible coordinated attacks by Iranian-backed groups against civilian and economic infrastructure across the kingdom, citing intelligence shared with allies.
Analysts said the attacks also raised concerns about the security of maritime trade routes near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where Houthi forces have previously targeted commercial shipping. The renewed fighting threatens to undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions and safeguarding key shipping lanes linking the Red Sea with global markets.
Human rights organizations have urged all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law and avoid attacks that endanger civilians or critical infrastructure. They have warned that renewed hostilities risk reversing years of reduced violence achieved after the 2022 truce.
No official announcement of new ceasefire negotiations had been made by late Friday, and military authorities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia said they remained on heightened alert as they assessed the aftermath of the attacks.
