Houthis Renew Strikes on Mokha Port as Escalation Intensifies Along Yemen’s Coast

Taiz – Yemeni sources reported Friday that the Houthi movement launched fresh attacks on Mokha port in Taiz province, southwestern Yemen, marking another escalation in the group’s campaign along the Red Sea coast.

The renewed strikes come just days after a major Houthi assault involving ballistic missiles and drones on Mokha city and its port, which killed seven people including four soldiers and three civilians and wounded 30 others. 

At the time, the Yemeni army said its defenses intercepted 11 drones used in the attack, according to Reuters.

The latest offensive coincides with intensified Houthi operations against government positions in Marib, Hadramout, and Hodeidah, as well as continued threats to maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

UN envoy Hans Grundberg warned Thursday that Yemen faces its greatest risk of returning to full-scale war since the April 2022 truce.

He noted that recent Houthi attacks in Mokha, Marib, and Hadramout have caused casualties among both military personnel and civilians, underscoring the fragile state of the ceasefire.

Mokha port holds strategic importance due to its proximity to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. It also serves as a vital outlet for government-controlled areas along Yemen’s western coast.