Houthi’s ballistic missiles hit Yemen’s Marib

MARIB, Yemen

At least 29 casualties were reported from two ballistic missile attacks carried out by Houthi rebels in Yemen's Marib province, an official said Sunday.

Yemen’s Information Minister Muammar al-Iryani said on Twitter that the Iranian-made ballistic missiles targeted the southern Al-Jalwah district, hitting a mosque and religious center.

Noting that the casualties included children and women, he urged the international community to put a stop to the daily war crimes committed by the Houthis against civilians.

On Oct. 21, a total of 13 people were also killed by Houthis in the same region.

In recent months, Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks to take control of the oil-rich province, one of the most important strongholds of the legitimate government and home to the headquarters of Yemen’s Defense Ministry.

On Feb.13, the Yemeni army launched a large-scale operation against the Houthis on various fronts in Marib to protect the province.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital, Sana’a.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises with 233,000 people killed, nearly 80% of the country’s 30 million people needing humanitarian assistance and protection and more than 13 million people in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar