Houthi Rebels Claim Strike on Saudi Troop Gathering in Yemen’s Mocha Port

On August 9 (local time), Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed that they attacked Saudi Arabian military forces stationed in the southwestern Yemeni port city of Mocha using missiles and drones.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a statement on the same day, saying that they carried out a large-scale precision strike targeting the Saudi military troop assembly point and ammunition depot in the Mocha region.

He stated that numerous ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) were used in the operation, claiming significant destruction of Saudi weapons and military equipment. He also added that dozens of casualties, including Saudi nationals, had resulted from the attack.

The Houthis claimed that this attack was in response to Saudi Arabia’s reinforcement of troops and replenishment of weapons and equipment, as well as Saudi offensives in Yemen’s western coast and Taiz Province.

So far, the Saudi side has not made any official statement regarding the Houthi rebel claims of attack.

Earlier in the day, the Houthis also claimed responsibility for causing a fire at a refinery facility operated by the state-owned oil company Aramco in Jizan, southwestern Saudi Arabia, saying it resulted from their drone strike.

Previously, on July 25, the Houthis carried out a missile strike on an Aramco refinery in Jizan Province in retaliation for Saudi attacks on Hodeida Port—which is under Houthi control. It is known that operations at the facility were temporarily suspended two days after the attack.

Backed by Iran, the Houthis have recently declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and have attacked Saudi oil tankers traversing the Red Sea. In response, Saudi Arabia has continued military attacks on areas within Yemen controlled by the Houthis, leading to an escalation of clashes between the two sides.

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