Houthi drone strike kills two in Bahrain, ceasefire violations continue

The incident represented a major escalation after more than a year of relative calm in Yemen as peace efforts gained momentum.

 A view of ballistic missiles during a military parade held by the Houthis to mark the anniversary of their takeover in Sanaa, Yemen September 21, 2023 (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
A view of ballistic missiles during a military parade held by the Houthis to mark the anniversary of their takeover in Sanaa, Yemen September 21, 2023
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

Violations of a truce by forces of the Saudi-led coalition have not stopped and 12 Yemeni soldiers were killed in one month along Saudi borders, Yemen's Houthi movement said on Tuesday.

Reacting to an attack that killed two Bahraini servicemen on Monday, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam told Reuters violations of the truce were "regrettable."

"We stress the importance of entering into a phase of serious peace...so that requirements of comprehensive and just peace are achieved," he added.

The Saudi-led military alliance condemned the attack and said it followed other hostile actions by the group, including an attack on a power distribution unit and a police station near the border, said a statement from coalition spokesperson General Turki al-Malk.

BNA, citing a statement from the Bahraini army, said an officer and a soldier were killed.

 A view of ballistic missiles during a military parade held by the Houthis to mark the anniversary of their takeover in Sanaa, Yemen September 21, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
A view of ballistic missiles during a military parade held by the Houthis to mark the anniversary of their takeover in Sanaa, Yemen September 21, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

There was no immediate comment from the Houthi movement.

The incident represented a major escalation after more than a year of relative calm in Yemen as peace efforts gained momentum. It could jeopardize talks between Saudi and Houthi officials who have just held another round of negotiations on a potential agreement towards an end to the conflict in Yemen.

"Such repeated hostile and provocative actions are not consistent with the positive efforts that are being made to seek an end to the crisis and reach a comprehensive political solution," the coalition statement said, adding that it reserves the right to respond at the appropriate time and place.

Fighting in Yemen continues

The Houthis have been fighting against the Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and left 80% of Yemen's population dependent on humanitarian aid.

Last week, the Saudi government welcomed what it described as "positive results" from the first direct talks it had with leading Houthi officials over five days in Riyadh.

The US Embassy in Bahrain sent a message of condolence to the families of those killed and said it stood by its long-term ally.