At least 73 people have been killed after a ballistic missile strike targeted a security training camp in Yemen's Shabwa province, with the death toll rising after several critically wounded recruits succumbed to their injuries in hospital. More than 200 others were injured in the attack.

The attack targeted the Martyr Ahmed al-Sulaimani Training Centre in Shabwa province, where newly recruited security personnel were taking part in a training exercise.

According to the Shabwa provincial authorities, the Ansarullah Movement launched three ballistic missiles at the facility while recruits were assembled on the parade ground, causing heavy casualties. Officials said the explosions turned the training area into a scene of devastation, with emergency teams rushing dozens of wounded recruits to nearby hospitals.

Death toll rises as critically wounded recruits die

Initial official reports put the death toll at 53, with more than 200 people injured. Authorities later said several critically wounded recruits died while receiving treatment in hospital, raising the confirmed death toll to 73. Officials added that some of the injured remain in critical condition and warned the number of fatalities could increase further.

Shabwa Governor Awad al-Wazir described the strike as one of the deadliest attacks since fighting intensified in Yemen, saying many of the victims were newly recruited security personnel between the ages of 18 and 20.

Fighting intensifies across Yemen

The Shabwa provincial government accused the Ansarullah Movement of carrying out the attack, while the group's military spokesman said the missiles targeted what he described as a military facility used by Saudi-backed forces. He also claimed the site was operated by Saudi officers, although no evidence was provided to support that assertion.

The missile strike came amid escalating fighting between Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Ansarullah Movement, following the collapse of the 2022 ceasefire. Government forces have recently launched operations aimed at regaining control of strategic areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while fighting has also continued around Taiz and other front-line regions. The attack on the Shabwa training camp is regarded as one of the deadliest single incidents since the conflict intensified again in recent months.(ILKHA)