Marib: Houthi attacks on Yemen's Marib province killed at least 10 people Friday, according to a minister and military source, as the rebels escalated strikes on the oil-rich region a day after their deadliest attack in years. The latest violence has raised the spectre of a return to war in the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country, where a 2022 truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government had largely held before unravelling last month.
According to France24.com, a Yemeni military source stated that Houthi attacks in Marib province killed eight members of government forces and wounded 12 others. The health minister for the Saudi-backed government reported that the rebels had shelled residential areas and displacement camps in Marib city, resulting in the deaths of at least two civilians and injuries to 14 others.
The Iran-backed rebels later claimed responsibility for an attack on a government-held military camp in Marib province. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the Saudi enemy continued to mobilize and incite its forces, which were then targeted along with their arsenals, vehicles, and military equipment in the Sahn al-Jinn camp with numerous missiles and drones.
Health minister Qasim Buhaibeh shared on X that the shelling by the Houthi militia targeted residential neighborhoods and displacement camps in Marib, leading to civilian casualties and injuries. The Houthis launched more than 10 missiles and seven one-way attack drones targeting military camps in the province, as confirmed by the Yemeni military source.
A source close to the Saudi military indicated that the Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government since 2015 would not remain passive as the Houthis increase their attacks, highlighting that Marib is a crucial area. The coalition aims to maintain the current balance of power and prevent a Houthi takeover of Marib.
The strategic Marib province, divided between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, remains a focal point due to its energy resources. The province's significance is underscored by past conflicts, including the Houthis' resumed offensive in 2021 and the nationwide truce in 2022, which has since been disrupted.
Yemen's prolonged conflict has become intertwined with broader geopolitical tensions, including the US-Iran conflict, exacerbated by recent Houthi actions such as welcoming an Iranian plane to Sanaa and enforcing a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. The Houthis also conducted an attack last month, killing 16 soldiers in the vicinity of Hodeidah, further escalating the situation.