Houthi strike on training camp in Shabwa, Yemen, kills or wounds at least 40

SHABWA, Yemen — At least 40 people were killed or wounded on Monday in a Houthi strike on al-Ilm camp in the Jardan district of Yemen's Shabwa governorate, Al Jazeera reported, citing a local official.

Middle East Eye relayed the report in a live blog on 19 October 2026. It said Al Jazeera was citing the deputy of the provincial governor. The figure of 40 covers both dead and wounded. The sources do not say how many people fall into each group.

Camp used for training recruits

In a separate post on its Telegram channel, Al Jazeera Arabic said the deputy governor of Shabwa had described the targeted camp. According to the post, al-Ilm camp houses new recruits who are receiving training to join the security forces.

The Telegram post is a social media item and Zenga News has not independently verified it. The description of the camp as a training site for recruits comes from the deputy governor, as relayed by Al Jazeera Arabic. No other source in the available material confirms it.

What is not yet known

The available reports do not give a breakdown of the dead and the wounded. They do not say how many of the casualties were recruits or whether any were instructors or other staff. They do not name any of the people affected.

The reports also do not describe the weapon used in the strike. It is not stated whether it was a missile, a drone or another type of attack. The time of the strike is not given beyond the date of the reports.

No statement from the Houthis about the strike was included in the material reviewed. It is not known whether the group has claimed responsibility or commented on the camp being a target. Zenga News has not seen a response from the government or the security forces in Shabwa beyond the deputy governor's remarks.

The figure of at least 40 is an early estimate attributed to one official, as reported by Al Jazeera. It may change as more information becomes available. Numbers in the first hours after a strike are often revised, and the sources do not say whether further casualties are expected.

Background

Shabwa is a governorate in Yemen. Jardan is one of its districts, and al-Ilm camp is located there, according to Middle East Eye. The Houthis are named in the reports as the party that carried out the strike.

The reports describe the camp as a site where recruits are trained for the security forces, according to the deputy governor. The material reviewed does not provide further detail on the camp's history, its size or who operates it.

Zenga News will update this report if officials or the Houthis give further details, or if the casualty figures are revised.