The attack, which used three ballistic missiles, was claimed by the Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah. They said it targeted a Saudi-backed military base. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that any location with a Saudi-backed military presence is considered a legitimate target.
Yemeni government officials condemned the strike. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, said those killed were new recruits and promised a "firm response." He added that the attack reflects the Houthi militia's approach of resorting to terrorist attacks when under pressure.
Local authorities initially reported 18 dead and 30 wounded, but the numbers rose through the day, with the Shabwa local authority later putting the death toll at 53 with 200 wounded.
The attack occurred amid a wider escalation in Yemen's long-running civil war. After years of relative calm, hostilities reignited following the US and Israel's war on Iran, which led to the Houthis seizing strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month. The Saudi-backed government responded with a counteroffensive and launched the "Dawn of Yemen" operation to recapture Houthi-held territory, including the capital Sanaa.
The Houthis have also stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting Riyadh's international airport and the state oil company Aramco. On Monday, Saudi authorities warned residents of Riyadh of a "hostile aerial threat."