A strike by Houthi forces on Marib, a government-controlled city in Yemen, resulted in at least two civilian deaths and 14 injuries. Yemen’s Health Minister Qassem Bahaibah characterized the Iran-aligned group as a “terrorist militia” and noted that the casualty figures were preliminary. He indicated that health facilities across the region had been instructed to increase their operational readiness.
The attack represented the latest in a series of escalating hostilities across Yemen’s territory. The previous day had seen at least 30 government soldiers killed by Houthi forces in strikes targeting Hadramout and Marib provinces. The Yemeni government’s Ministry of Public Health and Population released a statement condemning the assault, characterizing it as a deliberate targeting of civilian residential areas and displacement camps and labeling it a violation of international humanitarian law.
Marib is home to the largest concentration of displaced families in Yemen according to the United Nations refugee agency. On the same day as the civilian attack, Yemen’s Defence Ministry reported that its forces intercepted and destroyed multiple Houthi drones operating over the city. In a separate statement, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group had successfully struck Saudi-backed military forces, storage facilities, and equipment in the Marib area, and pledged continued military action against what he described as foreign occupation forces.
The fighting represents part of a broader pattern of increased military activity along multiple front lines throughout early July, with casualties mounting on both sides. The Houthis have also intensified attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, coinciding with heightened regional tensions stemming from international military developments. In response to the escalating threat, Saudi Arabia announced a joint defence agreement with Turkiye and Pakistan, establishing mutual defence obligations among the three nations.
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