Death toll from Houthi strike on Yemen camp rises to 73

The death toll from a Houthi strike on a Yemeni government military camp in Shabwa province rose to 73 on Tuesday, local authorities said. The Monday attack hit a training center for new security recruits, as fighting escalates between the Iran-backed Houthis and the government after a years-long truce collapsed.

How many people died in the Houthi strike on the Yemen camp?

Provincial authorities said the toll rose from 53 on Monday to 73 on Tuesday. Another 14 people are missing, and search efforts are ongoing. More than 200 others were injured, all new members of the internal security forces who were undergoing training.

The toll "increased to 73 martyrs, while search and follow-up efforts are ongoing to discover the fate of 14 missing people", provincial authorities said in a statement.

It was the deadliest attack in weeks. Fighting between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized, Saudi-supported government has raged since the truce fell apart.

Who carried out the strike on the Shabwa camp?

The Houthis claimed responsibility. Military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted "Saudi enemy gatherings in Al-Alam camp, which is run by a Saudi officer from the eastern regions".

Majed al-Nuzaili, spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces, said on X on Monday that the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at Shabwa. He said the attack "struck a training center for personnel of security and police agencies."

Why does Shabwa matter in Yemen's war?

Shabwa is an energy-rich province with major oil and gas fields. It is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas terminal, the country's largest energy facility and a key economic asset.

A government military source in the province said on Monday that the army feared the strikes could pave the way for a ground offensive. The source compared the risk to "what happened in Mokha", the strategic Red Sea port city the Houthis seized last month.