Yemen’s Houthi group has launched a new wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting the western city of Mokha, according to the Yemeni military. The Armed Forces Media Centre reported that the strikes focused on residential areas, while local air defense systems successfully intercepted several of the incoming drones. There were no immediate reports of casualties or physical damage resulting from this latest escalation.
These attacks follow a violent incident earlier on Sunday, when Houthi strikes hit the Mokha port and surrounding residential neighborhoods. Official media reports indicate that the earlier assault killed at least seven civilians and left approximately 35 others injured. During that initial operation, government forces intercepted multiple drones and successfully thwarted an attempt by a Houthi booby-trapped boat to strike the port’s pier. The pro-government National Resistance Forces stated that 11 drones were downed during the earlier attack.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the earlier strikes, asserting that their missiles and drones were aimed at Saudi military concentrations and weapons depots located within the Mokha area. Mokha is a critical location situated near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The port remains under the control of Yemeni government forces.
In response to the Houthi aggression, the Yemeni army conducted retaliatory strikes, bombing the Al-Mahroor area northwest of Taiz city. Artillery units also shelled Houthi concentrations on the Hameer front in Maqbanah and the Al Aqrud front in the Sabir al-Masrah district. Government forces additionally targeted Houthi positions at Al-Madarij hill northwest of the city. Reports also indicate ongoing clashes between government forces and Houthi fighters across several fronts in the province.
Hostilities have periodically intensified along various fronts in Yemen over the past month, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries on both sides. The country had experienced a relative lull in violence since April 2022, following nearly 12 years of conflict between the government and the Houthi group, which seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and large portions of the nation in 2014.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.