The Iranian-backed militia said it had targeted the armed forces in two resource-rich provinces, as escalating violence in Yemen imperils a fragile truce.

The Iranian-backed militia said it had targeted the armed forces in two resource-rich provinces, as escalating violence in Yemen imperils a fragile truce. The Yemeni military said Thursday that the Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia, had attacked the armed forces of the internationally recognized government in two provinces, an escalation that threatens to reignite Yemen’s long-simmering civil war. The Houthis targeted “several camps and units of the Armed Forces deployed in Marib and Hadramout provinces,” the Yemeni defense ministry said in a statement posted on social media. The military said its soldiers were killed and injured but did not provide an exact number. Local media outlets reported dozens had been killed. Hours after the attack, a Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the group had launched “a large number of drones and ballistic missiles” at Yemeni military camps in Marib and Hadramout, two oil-rich provinces controlled by the government. Mr. Saree said the group had launched the attack after they “monitored a large Saudi military mobilization” who were “aiming to escalate” against them. The Yemeni defense ministry said it would retaliate against the Houthis “at the appropriate time and place.” Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition in Yemen since 2015 to oust the Houthis and restore the internationally-recognized government, after the militia seized control of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition did not publicly comment on Thursday’s attack. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.