Death toll in attack on Marib's camp rises to 111‏

English version

اليمن العربي

The death toll from Saturday's missile attack on a military training camp in Yemen has risen to at least 111, the  government said.

 

The missile struck a mosque at the al-Estiqbal camp in Marib where soldiers had gathered for evening prayers.

 

The government blamed the rebel Houthi movement, but it did not immediately confirm it had launched the missile.

 

It was one of the bloodiest single attacks since the conflict in Yemen escalated five years ago.

 

Initial reports about the attack on al-Estiqbal camp, which is 170km (105 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, said at least 80 soldiers were killed.

 

But by Sunday night the death toll had risen to at least 111 due to the "serious and fatal injuries sustained by the soldiers", Health Ministry Undersecretary Abdul Raqeeb al-Haidari told the news website al-Masdar Online.

 

Military and medical sources told AFP news agency that 116 people had died.

 

President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi denounced the missile attack as a "cowardly and terrorist" act, which he said confirmed "without doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace".