SANA'A — Yemen’s Houthi movement has released drone footage that it says shows a ballistic missile striking a meeting of senior commanders from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces in an open desert area.
The footage appears to show three armoured vehicles arriving at a gathering point while a reconnaissance drone observes from above. After another vehicle arrives, the video shows a missile launch followed by an explosion that engulfs the vehicles. Houthi media claimed everyone at the meeting was killed, but the casualty figures and identities of those killed have not been independently verified.
September 6, 2026
Reports circulating about the incident put the death toll at nine people, including claims that two Pakistan Army officers were among those killed. However, there is currently no public confirmation from Pakistani, Saudi or Yemeni authorities that Pakistani military officers died in this particular strike.
The reported Pakistani connection has drawn attention because Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7, 2026. The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three and calls for expanded defence cooperation.
However, the agreement does not by itself establish that Pakistani forces are deployed inside Yemen. There are no confirmed public reports from Pakistani authorities that Pakistan Army officers were assisting Yemeni government forces inside Yemen in connection with the strike.
Fighting intensifies in western Yemen
The footage was released as fighting has intensified across parts of western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, with Houthi forces advancing toward areas around Mokha and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Recent clashes have caused significant casualties on both sides, although competing battlefield claims remain difficult to independently verify.
The Houthis have previously used ballistic missiles and drones against positions held by Saudi-backed government forces. Earlier attacks in Marib and Hadramout also caused significant casualties among government-aligned troops.
The latest footage provides the Houthis' account of a targeted missile strike, but independent verification of the location, casualty total and identities of those killed remains unavailable.
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