5 Children Killed in Yemen Blast as Houthis Declare Military Mobilization

Aden — The Yemeni government announced Tuesday that 5 children were killed in an explosion caused by a war remnant projectile, blaming the Houthi movement for the incident. The tragedy underscores the mounting toll of lingering munitions on civilians, particularly children.

In response, the Houthis declared a nationwide military mobilization, vowing to press ahead with what they described as the battle to “liberate the country.”

Yemeni Defense Minister held an expanded meeting, ordering heightened combat readiness across all fronts to confront potential escalations.

The past 24 hours have witnessed intensified clashes in several regions, threatening to unravel a relative truce that has held for more than four years. 

Government-run Yemen TV reported heavy fighting between army forces and Houthi militants in the al-Fakher and Batar areas of Al-Dhalea province in the south, involving artillery shelling and exchanges of fire that left five soldiers wounded.

The channel accused the Houthis of escalating hostilities in Al-Dhalea, while noting that government forces, backed by the Arab coalition, continue to repel the attacks.

Meanwhile, the Houthis announced the deaths of two of their officers, both colonels, during battles with government troops. 

The group’s Saba news agency reported funerals in Sana’a for Colonel Amer Ali Amer and Colonel Ahmed Mohsen Hamtan, describing them as having “fulfilled their national duty on the fronts of dignity.”

The escalation follows earlier clashes in Taiz, where the Yemeni army reported the death of one of its officers on Saturday.