Marib — Iran-backed Houthi militias launched a series of drone attacks targeting residential neighborhoods in the city of Marib, central Yemen, resulting in multiple civilian casualties and renewed fears of escalating violence in the region.

According to local medical and security sources, at least eight civilians were killed and 27 others injured when explosive-laden drones and ballistic missiles struck densely populated areas late Thursday evening. 

The attacks mark a significant escalation in the Houthis’ domestic operations, which have intensified in early 2025 following a shift in their military focus from the Red Sea to inland frontlines.

Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as emergency responders rushed to rescue victims trapped under rubble. 

“The explosions were deafening. We saw flames and smoke rising from homes,” said a resident of Marib’s Al-Rawda district, one of the hardest-hit areas.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government condemned the attacks as a “war crime,” accusing the Houthis of deliberately targeting civilians in violation of international humanitarian law. 

The government also called on the United Nations and international community to take urgent action to deter further aggression and protect civilians.

Military analysts note that the Houthis’ renewed focus on Marib — a strategic stronghold rich in energy resources — signals a broader campaign to pressure government forces and destabilize the fragile truce that has largely held since April 2022.

The escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing international scrutiny of the Houthis, who were recently redesignated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department.

As of Friday morning, hospitals in Marib remained overwhelmed, with medical staff appealing for urgent supplies to treat the wounded. 

Humanitarian organizations have warned that continued attacks on civilian infrastructure could worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen.