Yemen’s Houthis have initiated a renewed and aggressive campaign against the Red Sea port city of Al-Makha (Mocha), escalating a protracted conflict with government forces and escalating a devastating assault on vital infrastructure along Yemen’s western coast. The escalating hostilities, marked by a significant surge in missile and drone attacks, has resulted in at least 11 fatalities, including a minimum of 11 civilians, and has further destabilized the already precarious region. The attacks, which began shortly after a previous barrage on Sunday evening, represent a brazen attempt to disrupt commerce and threaten civilian populations, intensifying existing tensions and raising concerns about regional security. The Houthis have deployed a significant number of armed drones and ballistic missiles, deploying them in coordinated attacks across the harbor area. The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV broadcast footage of multiple missile launches, demonstrating the intensity of the assault. According to Yemeni government sources, air defense systems successfully intercepted six drones during the renewed assault, though two ballistic missiles fell into the sea without impacting their targets. The attacks are being attributed by the Houthis to a strategic objective of targeting Saudi troop concentrations and weapon depots within Al-Makha, a critical hub for regional arms shipments and logistical support. The Yemeni government has reported casualties, including at least 11 deaths, among military personnel and civilians, and has stated that the attacks have caused significant damage to port infrastructure, including buildings and commercial facilities, and resulted in damage to port infrastructure, commercial goods, and food supplies. The National Resistance Forces, a coalition aligned with the internationally recognised government, issued a stark warning to residents of Al-Makha, urging them to remain indoors and to avoid contact with the Houthis, accusing them of employing indiscriminate shelling tactics. The Houthis have asserted that the operation involved a substantial number of ballistic missiles and drones, launched in response to a continued Saudi military buildup, including the deployment of reinforcements with weaponry and equipment along Yemen’s western coast and within the Taiz province. Furthermore, Houthi political council member Hizam al-Assad claimed that continued explosions, fires, and smoke from the port were caused by a large quantity of stored weapons and military equipment, highlighting a deliberate attempt to undermine the port’s functionality. The escalation has not been limited to Al-Makha; it has also targeted the al-Khokha district, south of the coastal city of Hodeidah, where a Houthi ballistic missile strike resulted in the death of a military personnel. The National Resistance Forces, in their official statement, affirmed that the government-appointed governor of Hodeidah, al-Hassan Taher, survived an assassination attempt on his residence in the district. The Houthis have stated that the operation is part of a larger effort to disrupt commerce and to inflict damage to the port, and that the attacks are a direct response to the alleged continued Saudi military presence and the deployment of weapons and equipment along Yemen’s western coast and within Taiz province. The situation remains volatile, and international observers are closely monitoring the developments, particularly given the heightened risk of escalation and potential humanitarian consequences.
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Source: Al Jazeera
