Houthis target civilian sites in Marib with ballistic missiles

Yemen's Assistant Information Minister Fayyad al-Numan said on Saturday that Houthi forces launched several ballistic missiles at civilian infrastructure in the central province of Marib, triggering a series of explosions across the densely populated city that houses thousands of internally displaced persons who fled previous rounds of fighting.

Explosions rock civilian areas

Al-Numan posted on the social media platform X that local sources reported multiple blasts believed to be caused by missiles striking targets within Marib. The extent of material damage remained unclear in the immediate aftermath, though authorities feared potential casualties given the city's dense population and the presence of large numbers of internally displaced people who have sought refuge there from years of devastating conflict across Yemen.

State-run Saba TV reported that the Houthis had resumed shelling Marib city, striking residential areas with three ballistic missiles during the Saturday assault. Government-aligned Aljoumhouriya TV confirmed that three large explosions rocked the city as a result of the attack, adding that emergency response teams were assessing the impact on civilian neighborhoods.

Protracted conflict

Yemen has witnessed a relative lull since April 2022 in a war that began nearly 12 years ago between government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis, who seized control of the capital Sanaa and other major provinces in September 2014. Fighting has resumed in recent weeks across several frontlines including Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Dhalea and Taiz, exacerbating what remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. A Saudi-led coalition continues to support the internationally recognized government based in Aden, while regional powers accuse Iran of supplying weapons and logistical support to the Houthis, who announced a controversial maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia in July that has further inflamed regional tensions.