At least two civilians were killed and 14 others injured in a Houthi attack on the government-held city of Marib, Yemen, the country's internationally recognized government announced on Friday. Yemen's Health Minister Qassem Bahaibah stated that the casualty figures were preliminary and accused the Iran-aligned Houthis of deliberately targeting residential areas and displacement camps.

This latest incident underscores the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where the Houthi movement has been engaged in a protracted battle against forces loyal to the government. Marib, in particular, is significant as it hosts the largest number of displaced families in Yemen, according to the United Nations refugee agency, making attacks on the city particularly devastating for vulnerable populations.

Minister Bahaibah described the Houthis as a "terrorist militia" in a post on X, formerly Twitter, and confirmed that all health facilities had been instructed to raise their alert levels. The Ministry of Public Health and Population issued a statement condemning the attack in "the strongest terms," asserting that the "deliberate targeting of safe residential neighbourhoods and camps of displaced people" is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

The government's statement urged the international community and human rights organizations to take a "serious and urgent stance" to protect civilians. The attacks occurred just one day after the Houthis reportedly killed at least 30 government soldiers in Hadramout and Marib provinces, indicating a recent escalation in hostilities.

Earlier on Friday, Yemen's Ministry of Defence reported that its forces had successfully shot down several Houthi drones over Marib. The Houthi group had not immediately responded to the government's statements regarding Friday's deadly strike. The conflict in Yemen has seen intermittent fighting on various front lines since early July, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.

In parallel, the Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, a development that follows a rise in regional tensions linked to the war between the United States and Israel against Iran. On Thursday, a Houthi attack on the Saudi city of Najran injured 11 people, including a four-year-old child, according to the Saudi-led coalition.

The escalating tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia coincide with a new defence pact signed on Friday between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan. This agreement stipulates that an attack on any of the three nations will be considered an attack on all of them.

The Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, seized control of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Since then, they have been engaged in conflict with the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government, which is currently based in the port city of Aden.