According to Reuters, three ballistic missiles struck the al-Alam camp during a training exercise involving newly recruited members of Yemen’s internal security forces.
Local authorities said the attack caused heavy casualties among recruits undergoing training. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, while critically wounded patients were transferred to neighbouring provinces, including Hadramout and Aden, for treatment.
Yemeni military spokesperson Majed al-Nuzaili described the camp as a training centre for security personnel and police recruits.
The attack has raised concerns that fighting could spread further across Shabwa, a strategically important province in southern Yemen. The region contains significant oil and gas resources and is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas terminal, one of Yemen’s key energy facilities.
According to Reuters, local military sources fear the Houthis could expand their ground operations following the missile strike. Military sources also reported that a road linking Shabwa with the Houthi-controlled province of al-Bayda was closed on Sunday, raising concerns about further escalation.
The Houthis, through their Saba news agency, claimed that the camp housed personnel they described as enemies of Saudi Arabia. The group presented the strike as an attack on a Saudi-linked military target.
The latest violence comes amid a renewed escalation in Yemen’s long-running conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. Fighting has intensified following the breakdown of a truce, with government forces launching operations to regain territory held by the Houthis.
Tensions have also risen between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to reports cited by Reuters.
The renewed fighting has heightened concerns about regional security, particularly around Yemen’s strategic coastal areas and energy infrastructure. Further escalation could also increase risks to regional stability and energy supplies.
