Yemen camp death toll hits 73 as UK sends Typhoons to defend Saudi skies
The death toll from Monday's Houthi missile strike on a training camp in southern Yemen rose to 73 recruits on Tuesday, AP reported. The same day, Britain said RAF Typhoon fighter jets will fly defensive missions to protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi drones and missiles.
The deadliest strike in months
AP said the strike was the deadliest since fighting began escalating three months ago. Governor Awad Ibn al-Wazir said some recruits were still missing a day later. The al-Alam camp is in Shabwa province.
This had nothing to do with frontlines. They had not attacked anyone or advanced against anything. It was only to protect the security of their province.
The Houthis claimed the attack and said it targeted Saudi-run "mobilisations." Yemen's president, Rashad al-Alimi, vowed a hard response. He asked UN Secretary-General António Guterres to classify the Houthis as a terrorist organisation, The Guardian reported.
Britain steps up
The MoD said the Typhoons will fly "defensive counter air missions" over Saudi cities and critical infrastructure. Britain will also send an A400M transport aircraft and military advisers.
This adds to UK air-defence equipment already in the kingdom and air-to-air refuelling support. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, who approved the extra support, called the Houthi attacks "absolutely despicable" in a UK government statement.
"The targeting of the airport in Riyadh in particular shows the lengths the Houthis are going to escalate the situation in the region," Streeting said. The MoD said violence in the Gulf drives up the cost of living in Britain.
Pressure on Riyadh
On Tuesday, Saudi authorities issued an attack warning for the capital. An explosion was heard in northern Riyadh, near King Khalid International Airport, before the all-clear. Saudi Arabia said a Houthi ballistic missile had been intercepted.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct | Houthi strike on Riyadh airport; at least 12 dead | CNBC |
| 19 Oct | al-Alam camp hit; FII postponed to 2027 | AP, CNBC |
| 20 Oct | Toll rises to 73; UK commits Typhoons | AP, MoD |
