Houthi missile strike kills 73 recruits at Yemen training camp, authorities say

What happened

The BBC Middle East Yemen desk reports that on Monday, three ballistic missiles hit the al-Alam training camp in Yemen's Shabwa province, killing 73 recruits and injuring many others, according to local authorities and the Yemeni government. The camp was used to train members of the internal security forces and police. Initial reports had cited 53 deaths, but a government investigative committee later raised the toll to 73 dead and 14 missing.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The Yemen government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, condemned the attack as a war crime since the training centre was not considered a military target. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani described the strike as a "criminal attack" and accused the Houthis of seeking a false media victory amid battlefield setbacks. The Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi promised a "firm response."

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed the missiles targeted "Saudi enemy concentrations" at the camp, alleging the presence of Saudi officers. This claim is not independently verified within the source context. No immediate comment came from Saudi authorities.

Known from the source

• Three ballistic missiles struck the al-Alam camp in Shabwa province on Monday.
• The camp was used as a training centre for recruits to Yemen's internal security and police forces.
• Local authorities and Yemeni government sources report 73 recruits killed with 14 missing.
• The Yemen government and information minister condemned the attack as a war crime.
• Houthi spokesman claims the target was Saudi enemy concentrations at the camp.

What remains unclear

The attack occurs amid intensified conflict across Yemen, where pro-government forces have recently regained some territory on the Red Sea coast near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, supported by Saudi air power. The Houthis have responded with sustained missile and drone strikes on Saudi infrastructure. Clashes continue around key contested areas including Taiz, Marib, and al-Jawf provinces.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verify official casualty numbers and missing persons from additional sources. Confirm exact target details and presence of Saudi personnel at the camp. Seek independent corroboration of Houthi missile launch and targeting claims.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Middle East Yemen. Open the source.