Houthi attacks kill at least 38 Yemeni government troops

Yemeni government forces suffered a heavy blow on Thursday when at least 38 soldiers were killed in a coordinated drone and missile strike carried out by Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, medical officials confirmed. The attacks targeted a convoy of government troops near the capital, according to hospital reports that recorded the casualties.

The Houthis said the strike was a response to what they described as a recent military buildup in Yemen supported by Saudi Arabia. They have repeatedly accused the Saudi‑backed coalition of escalating tensions in the region, citing the increased presence of Saudi air and ground assets as a provocation.

The incident marks another escalation in the protracted conflict that has seen the Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government clash for years. The government has vowed to intensify its counter‑insurgency operations, while the Houthis continue to claim that their actions are defensive measures against external interference.