DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In a surprising incident, a soldier aligned with Yemen’s exiled government opened fire on Saudi troops during their training exercises in eastern Yemen, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to another, according to officials on Saturday. This attack occurred in the Hadramawt province amid a fragile cease-fire that has mostly been upheld between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels, despite continued aggressive actions from the militants against shipping routes in the Red Sea region. Although the Houthis did not specifically claim responsibility for this attack, a Houthi official expressed admiration for the shooting, interpreting it as a sign of challenging times ahead for foreign forces operating in Yemen.
The shooting took place on Friday night in Seiyun, a city approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) east of Sanaa. The soldier targeted the troops at a Saudi-supported military base, leading to the death of one officer and one noncommissioned officer, as reported by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. A military statement described this act as a “Lone Wolf” attack that fails to represent the values upheld by the Yemeni Ministry of Defense. Both deceased soldiers and the injured comrade have since been transported back to Saudi Arabia for care and burial.
Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, confirmed that the assailant was part of the First Military Region stationed in Seiyun. Local law enforcement agencies have released images of the shooter, announcing a reward of 30 million Yemeni rials—equivalent to around $15,000 in the black market—for information leading to his capture.
No clear motive has been provided for this act of violence. Although al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has a long-standing presence in the Hadramawt region, they have yet to take responsibility for this incident. A recent report from United Nations experts indicated a potential coordination of operations between AQAP and the Houthis, suggesting increased collaboration between these groups.
Despite the lack of a formal claim from the Houthis, Houthi official Hamid Rizq lauded the attack via a message on the social platform X, insisting it was a reaction to perceived oppression stemming from the presence of Saudi troops in Yemen. He described the operation as heroic and a symbol of impending difficulties for “the invaders.”
Since the Houthis seized control of Sanaa in September 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict that escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened on behalf of the exiled Yemeni government. The war, which has drawn in external powers such as Iran supporting the Houthis, has been characterized by a prolonged stalemate and has resulted in over 150,000 deaths, comprising both combatants and civilians. It has also precipitated one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with additional tens of thousands dying from related consequences.
A cease-fire that lapsed in October 2022 has mostly endured, despite ongoing hostilities from the Houthis, who have been vocal in leveraging the recent Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip and the situation in Lebanon. On Saturday night, media outlets controlled by the Houthis reported the occurrence of suspected U.S. airstrikes targeting locations near Sanaa; however, no immediate assessment of damage was available, though past strikes have aimed at military installations, radar stations, and weapon launch sites.