Missile and drone strikes hit government military sites in Yemen's central Marib province on Friday, 7 August, according to a Yemeni military source and local residents — one day after Houthi attacks reportedly killed 'dozens' of government troops in Marib and the neighbouring province of Hadramout.

Key Developments in Marib

A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Houthi forces targeted several government military camps, including the headquarters of the Third Military Region in Marib city. Residents reported a series of explosions shaking the city during the attacks. Local media also documented missile and drone strikes on military positions in and around Marib. There was no immediate information on casualties or damage from the Friday strikes, and the Houthis had not commented on the reported attacks as of the time of reporting.

Houthi Claims of a 'Large-Scale' Operation

Yemen's Houthi group had claimed on Thursday that it carried out a 'large-scale' military operation using ballistic missiles and drones against government forces in the eastern provinces of Marib and Hadramout, asserting 'hundreds of casualties.' In a televised statement broadcast by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the attacks targeted military positions in Ruwaik in Marib and in Thaniyah and Al-Abr in Hadramout, striking camps and troop gatherings belonging to the 1st and 3rd divisions of the newly-formed, Saudi-backed Yemeni emergency forces.

Sarea claimed that 'hundreds' of government personnel were killed or wounded and that military vehicles, weapons depots, and other facilities were destroyed or set ablaze. He also said military bases in Al-Wadi'ah, an area on the Yemen-Saudi Arabia border, were targeted.

Houthi Warning to Saudi Arabia

Sarea stated the operation was launched after the Houthis detected what he described as large-scale Saudi military buildups that had reached their 'final stages,' accusing Riyadh of preparing for major ground operations against Houthi-controlled areas. He warned Saudi Arabia against further escalation, saying Houthi forces are 'fully prepared to confront any escalation' and will continue what the group calls its 'blockade-for-blockade' strategy until restrictions it accuses Riyadh of imposing on Houthi-controlled areas are lifted.

Verified Casualties

A separate military official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 35 Yemeni government soldiers were killed and scores of others wounded in drone attacks on military positions across Marib and Hadramout. The attacks struck military barracks and positions at several locations across both provinces, including bases of the Yemeni emergency forces. The Houthi figure of 'hundreds' of casualties remains unverified and attributed solely to the group's own spokesperson.

Broader Context

The strikes represent a significant escalation in Yemen's long-running civil conflict, with the Houthis increasingly targeting eastern provinces that hold strategic oil infrastructure. This comes amid persistent tensions over the Saudi-led coalition's posture in the region, with both sides accusing the other of preparing for renewed large-scale hostilities. The situation in Marib and Hadramout is being closely monitored by regional observers as a potential flashpoint for a wider military confrontation.