Houthi Rebels in Yemen Launch Ballistic Missile Attack on Marib City Center...29 Dead

Fierce Battle Over Major Oil and Natural Gas Production Base Marib
Arab League Coalition Also Faces Internal Divisions... Diplomatic War with Lebanon Intensifies

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Houthi rebels, an Islamic Shia armed group in Yemen, launched a ballistic missile attack on the city center of Marib, the last stronghold of the Yemeni government forces, resulting in the deaths of 29 civilians. As the Houthi rebels intensify their offensive by pressuring the outskirts of Marib, the Saudi Arabia-led Arab Coalition forces engaged in combat with the Houthis are reportedly experiencing internal conflicts.

According to Al Jazeera on the 1st (local time), Muammar Al Iryani, Yemen's Minister of Information, stated in a Twitter announcement that "29 people, including women and children, lost their lives due to two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi rebels." According to the Yemeni government, the missiles targeted mosques and religious schools in Marib city.

However, the Houthi rebels, who receive support from Iran, have completely denied responsibility for this attack. Nevertheless, it is presumed to be an offensive by the Houthis, as they declared last month that they had captured the Shabwa and Marib provincial areas near Marib city. The Marib region is an economic hub densely packed with major oil and natural gas drilling sites in Yemen, and fierce battles continue between government forces and rebels over this area.

Currently, the government forces, supported by the Saudi Arabia-led Arab Coalition, are making every effort to defend Marib, the last stronghold city, but Al Jazeera reported that Marib is also at risk of falling as the Houthi offensive grows stronger day by day. Due to the prolonged civil war in Yemen, it is reported that about 16 million people are currently facing hunger.

Divisions within the Arab League are also deepening. Georges Kordahi, Lebanon's Minister of Information and a member of the League, sparked controversy by stating in an interview with a domestic broadcaster that "Saudi Arabia's intervention in the Yemen civil war was wrong" and that "the Houthi rebels are defending themselves against external aggression." On the 29th of last month, the Saudi government responded strongly by issuing a 48-hour expulsion order for the Lebanese ambassador stationed in Saudi Arabia and banning imports of Lebanese goods. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Kuwait also took similar measures, intensifying the diplomatic dispute between the Arab League countries and Lebanon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.