official (Shabwa province media office, preliminary, Oct 19; Yemeni armed forces spokesman; Presidential Leadership Council) · media (BBC News; AFP)
Houthi missiles hit a security training camp in Shabwa, Yemen, killing 53, local officials say
Three ballistic missiles came down on a camp full of police recruits in Shabwa. The province's first count is 53 dead and more than 200 wounded.
Key facts
- Toll
- 53 killed and more than 200 injured, preliminary (Shabwa province media office, Oct 19)
- Target
- Martyr Ahmed al-Sulaimani Training Centre at al-Alam camp near Ataq, training internal security and police recruits (Shabwa media office; armed forces spokesman)
- Weapons
- Three ballistic missiles (Yemeni armed forces spokesman)
- Wounded
- Hospitals overwhelmed; the most serious cases moved to Hadramout and Aden (deputy governor Fahad al-Khalifi to AFP)
- Houthi claim
- Said it targeted a gathering of Saudi forces (Yahya Sarea)
A firm response.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Oct 19, via BBC
Note
Ballistic missiles struck a training camp for internal security recruits near Ataq in Yemen's Shabwa province on Monday, October 19. The province's media office said the Martyr Ahmed al-Sulaimani Training Centre was hit, and gave a preliminary count of 53 killed and more than 200 injured.
A spokesman for the government's armed forces said the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at al-Alam camp. Shabwa's deputy governor told AFP the province's hospitals were overwhelmed and the most seriously wounded were being moved to Hadramout and Aden.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, called it a criminal attack and promised a firm response. The Houthi military spokesman said the missiles targeted Saudi forces at the camp.
The first count is preliminary. First counts in this war have tended to rise.
Why it matters
It is among the deadliest strikes since Yemen's war reignited this summer, and the government has promised to answer it.
Sources
Primary + secondary attribution as listed.
More: Armed conflict
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