Houthi Ballistic Missile Strike on Yemen Health Centre Kills Five, Wounds 15, Government Says

ADEN (Terror Monitor) — Yemen’s internationally recognised government has accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of firing a ballistic missile from territory under their control at a health centre in the southern province of Lahj, killing at least five people and injuring 15 others, including medical personnel.

The attack targeted the Al-Suqiya Health Centre in the Al-Mudaribah district, according to Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population and government officials. The ministry described the incident as a serious violation of international humanitarian law, which provides special protection to medical facilities, healthcare workers and patients during armed conflicts.

Government spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nazili said the initial casualty toll included five fatalities and 15 wounded. The health ministry subsequently clarified that three of those killed were members of the medical staff working at the facility, while seven of the injured were also healthcare workers.

In a statement carried by the state-run SABA news agency, the ministry condemned what it described as a deliberate attack on a civilian medical establishment and called on the international community, the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross to investigate the incident and ensure accountability.

Government accuses Houthis of targeting civilian infrastructure

Al-Nazili said the strike formed part of what the government described as a pattern of Houthi attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

In a post on X, he argued that medical facilities were protected under international law and that deliberately attacking them constituted a war crime.

Yemen’s Prime Minister Shaea al-Zindani also condemned the attack, describing it as a terrorist act and a violation of international humanitarian law. He called on local authorities and security agencies to document the incident, collect evidence and ensure that those responsible could be held accountable.

The government said medical facilities must remain outside the scope of military operations to ensure civilians can receive treatment without being exposed to the dangers of armed conflict.

The Houthi group had not publicly responded to the accusation at the time of reporting. The circumstances of the strike and the government's account have not been independently verified.

National Shield Forces report drone strikes near Bab al-Mandab

Separately, Yemen’s government-aligned National Shield Forces said their First Division had carried out drone strikes against Houthi positions along the Bab al-Mandab front.

In a statement published on X, the forces said unmanned aerial vehicles targeted Houthi fighters and military positions in the strategically important area overlooking the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

The military formation released video footage that it said showed the drone attacks. However, it did not disclose the number of fighters killed or wounded, nor provide an assessment of the damage caused to the targeted positions.

The reported strikes come amid renewed fighting along several fronts in southwestern Yemen, including areas around Lahj and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Fighting intensifies as Houthis advance towards Aden

The latest developments come as Yemen’s conflict enters another period of escalation.

Reuters reported on Monday that Iran-aligned Houthi forces had advanced to within approximately 80 kilometres of Aden, the temporary capital of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, citing four military sources.

The reported advance represents the closest the group has come to Aden since 2015. The fighting has also threatened important routes linking the southern port city with other parts of the country.

According to Reuters, the Houthis have made territorial gains along parts of the Red Sea coast and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, raising concerns over shipping routes and regional security.

The renewed offensive has also intensified fighting in Taiz and Lahj, with government forces deploying reinforcements and attempting to regain positions lost in recent days.

Asharq Al-Awsat separately reported that clashes resumed along the Bab al-Mandab front on Monday, while government-aligned forces sought to advance in the Al-Mudaribah and Ras al-Arah districts of Lahj.

Strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab

The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, linking shipping routes between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal.

Any further expansion of fighting around the strait could threaten commercial shipping and increase security concerns across the Red Sea region.

The latest reported attack on the Al-Suqiya health centre, together with the drone strikes claimed by government-aligned forces, illustrates the widening scope of the confrontation as both sides seek to strengthen their positions in southern and western Yemen.

With fighting approaching areas around Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the renewed escalation threatens to deepen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and further complicate efforts to restore stability.