World

53 Soldiers Killed in Houthi Missile Strike on Yemen's Shabwa Military Camp

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 20, 2026•2 min read

Three Houthi ballistic missiles struck the Al-Alam military training camp in Jardan, Shabwa, southern Yemen, on Monday (19/10/2026). At least 53 personnel were killed and around 200 injured — one of the deadliest attacks since Yemen's civil war reignited. The Houthis acknowledged the strike; Yemen's government pledged a firm response.

Key Facts

The attack took place on Monday (19/10/2026): three Houthi ballistic missiles struck the Al-Alam military training camp (Ahmed Al-Sulaimani Training Centre) in Jardan district, Shabwa province, southern Yemen.
At least 53 personnel were killed and around 200 injured, according to the Shabwa provincial government; the toll is described as preliminary and may rise.
The victims were mostly new recruits of the internal security forces (Rapid Intervention unit) who were lining up for a training session when the missiles hit.
The Houthis acknowledged the strike; their military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the target was a "Saudi enemy gathering" — an unsubstantiated claim Saudi authorities have not commented on.
Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, condemned the attack and pledged a "firm response".
Shabwa authorities urged urgent delivery of air defence and early warning systems; hospitals in the provincial capital Ataq were reported overwhelmed.
The strike is described as one of the deadliest single attacks since Yemen's civil war reignited in September, after the 2022 ceasefire collapsed.

Three Ballistic Missiles Hit Training Camp

Shabwa — At least 53 military personnel were killed and around 200 injured after three Houthi-launched ballistic missiles struck the Al-Alam military training camp in Jardan district, Shabwa province, southern Yemen, on Monday (19/10/2026).

According to the Shabwa provincial government, the missiles hit as new recruits of the internal security forces — the Rapid Intervention unit — were lining up for a training session. The casualties were evacuated to hospitals in Ataq, the provincial capital, which were reported overwhelmed by the wounded. The toll is described as preliminary and may rise.

Houthis Claim Attack, Government Vows Firm Response

The Houthis acknowledged the strike. Their military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed the target was a "Saudi enemy gathering" and alleged Saudi personnel were among the casualties — claims offered without evidence and not yet addressed by Saudi authorities.

Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, strongly condemned the attack and pledged a "firm response". The Shabwa provincial government urged the central government and the coalition to urgently provide air defence and early warning systems to strengthen the province's defences.

Worst Escalation Since War Reignited

The strike is described as one of the deadliest single attacks since Yemen's civil war reignited in September, after the 2022 ceasefire deal collapsed. Government forces this month launched a campaign to recapture Houthi-held areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic shipping chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea.

The Yemen conflict has become one front in the wider US-Israeli war on Iran, with the Houthis in recent weeks repeatedly striking Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh's international airport and Saudi Aramco oil facilities.