A soldier for Yemen’s exiled government opened fire on Saudi troops during an exercise in eastern Yemen, resulting in the death of two soldiers and the injury of another. The incident occurred in Seiyun, a city located 500 kilometers east of Sanaa in the Hadramawt province. The soldier, identified as belonging to the First Military Region, carried out the attack, which was described as a 'Lone Wolf' cowardly act by the Joint Forces Command. The attack was not claimed by the Houthi rebels, although a Houthi official praised it as a sign of a challenging future for the invaders.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the soldier opened fire while troops were working out at a Saudi-led base, killing an officer and a noncommissioned officer. The deceased soldiers were brought back to Saudi Arabia for burial. Authorities have offered a reward for information leading to the soldier's arrest, with no motive for the attack provided.
Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, known to operate in the Hadramawt region, did not claim responsibility for the attack. A recent UN report suggested potential coordination between al-Qaida and the Houthis in their operations. The ongoing conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis captured Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led coalition intervention in 2015.
The war in Yemen has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and created a severe humanitarian crisis. Despite a cease-fire that expired in October 2022, the conflict has persisted, with recent suspected US airstrikes targeting areas around Sanaa. The Houthis have not provided details on the damage caused by the strikes, which have previously targeted military installations and missile launch sites.
The situation in Yemen remains volatile, with various factions involved in the conflict and ongoing violence affecting civilians and combatants alike.
