Houthi militias on Friday fired a ballistic missile at a mosque in the Yemeni Marib governorate, killing and injuring 20 people during dawn prayers, military sources reported.
This coincided with Houthis stepping up their attacks against western Hodeidah governorate and targeting wheat mills there.
Local sources confirmed that the Houthi missile had hit a mosque inside the military camp of pro-government special forces in Marib. The attack is perceived as a desperate Houthi attempt to balance losses sustained on multiple battlefronts, especially those incurred in the vicinity of Marib.
Sources predicted that the number of victims killed by the missile will rise due to the critical injuries recorded.
An official statistic released last July revealed that the number of victims of Houthi attacks in Marib alone reached 700 deaths and injuries. The cases included women and children.
Covering the time period between April 2015 and July 2020, the statistic recorded 244 rocket attacks that killed and injured 689 Yemenis, 92 of which were children and women.
Caretaker Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani denounced the militias' attack against Red Sea mills.
“We strongly condemn the targeting of Iran-backed Houthi militia to the Red Sea mills, in Hodeidah, with artillery shelling, resulted in severe damage to the buildings of the mills, which are one of the most important development projects and pillars of the national economy,” Eryani tweeted.
Eryani, in an official statement, described that the Houthi attack against the mills constitutes a flagrant challenge to the international community and the UN, and further proves the Iran-backed militia’s lack of commitment to treaties.
He added that the attack is an escalation on behalf of the Houthis and aims to worsen an already bad situation in Hodeidah.
Eryani urged the UN chief, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths, and the Head of the United Nations Mission in support of the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) Lieutenant General (retired) Abhijit Guha to shoulder their responsibility and condemn the Houthi-committed atrocity.
