Yemeni force strikes Houthis in Marib after deadly drone attack

The Shabwa Defense Forces said on Friday they had carried out a large-scale retaliatory strike against Houthi positions in Yemen's Marib province, targeting command centers on the Harib front in response to a drone attack that killed two of their fighters.

Retaliatory strike

The force said in a statement published on Facebook that the operation targeted Houthi command-and-control facilities in the Harib district. It added that the strike inflicted human and material losses on the group, though no specific casualty figures were provided.

Drone attack

The operation came in direct response to a Houthi drone strike on the Harib front that killed two members of the force, according to the statement. The unit did not specify when the deadly attack occurred or provide details about the targets hit in the retaliatory action.

Conflict background

Yemen has been mired in conflict since 2014 when Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government to relocate to Aden. Marib province has witnessed some of the war's fiercest fighting as government forces attempt to halt rebel advances toward vital oil infrastructure.