Yemeni forces say four soldiers and three civilians died and 30 others were wounded; Houthis claim attack targeted Saudi-backed troops and weapons depots.
Yemen’s Houthi movement launched a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea port city of Mokha (also known as Mocha or al-Makha) on Sunday, killing at least seven people and wounding around 30 others, according to the Yemeni military and medical sources.
The strikes, which hit both military positions and civilian infrastructure in the government-controlled port, mark a sharp escalation along Yemen’s western coast near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemeni forces said four members of the armed forces and three civilians were killed, with dozens more injured. Air defences intercepted and shot down at least 11 drones during the assault, while some missiles reportedly fell into the sea.
Houthi Attack Causes Major Damage at Mokha Port:
Port authorities reported extensive damage. Abdulmalik al-Sharabi, the director of Mokha port, said around 25 drones struck economic facilities, employee housing and a customs hangar. Yemen’s Transport Ministry described “severe damage” to infrastructure, including warehouses, fuel stations, storage tanks and equipment. Commercial goods and food supplies were also affected, raising concerns about the impact on local livelihoods and relief efforts in a country already facing a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, stating that the group had carried out a “large-scale” operation using ballistic missiles and drones against “Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots” in the Mokha area. He said the attack was in response to an alleged continued Saudi military buildup, including the reinforcement of allied forces with weapons and equipment along Yemen’s western coast and in Taiz province. Houthi-affiliated media later released footage showing the launch of missiles and drones.
Government sources and residents painted a different picture, reporting that residential neighbourhoods and civilian areas inside the port were hit. Some accounts mentioned an unmanned explosive boat that was intercepted as it approached the commercial pier. Later on Sunday, the Houthis launched a renewed wave of attacks, with Yemeni forces saying air defences downed additional drones while two ballistic missiles fell harmlessly into the sea.
Mokha holds strategic importance due to its location on Yemen’s western coastline, close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait-a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and a vital route for global shipping and energy supplies. The port has long served as a commercial and potential relief hub for areas under the control of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Mokha Strikes Threaten Yemen’s Fragile Ceasefire:
The assault comes amid a fragile and frequently violated unofficial ceasefire that has largely held since 2022, and against a backdrop of renewed fighting in other parts of Yemen, including Marib and Hadramout. It also coincided with a Houthi claim of a drone strike on a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan, southwestern Saudi Arabia, which Riyadh said caused a fire that was later extinguished with no casualties reported.
Yemeni officials condemned the Mokha attack as a deliberate targeting of civilian and economic infrastructure. The local authority in Taiz governorate described it as a “war crime” aimed at obstructing commercial and relief activities, calling on the international community and the United Nations to take stronger action against the group. Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi characterised the strike as an “extension of Iranian escalation” against economic facilities and maritime routes.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern and western Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have repeatedly framed their operations as defensive responses to Saudi-led coalition actions and what they describe as aggression against Yemeni territory. The group has also maintained a campaign of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, though those operations have fluctuated in intensity.
As smoke rose over Mokha and casualty figures continued to be updated, the latest strikes underscored the persistent volatility of Yemen’s conflict and the risks it poses to both local populations and international maritime traffic. With multiple parties trading accusations and further exchanges of fire reported, the prospect of a wider flare-up along the Red Sea coast remains a serious concern for regional stability and humanitarian access.