Houthi Missile Strike on Yemen's Mokha Port Kills Three, Halts Operations
A Houthi missile attack on Yemen's Mokha port killed three, including two marines, and suspended operations at the strategic Red Sea facility.
A missile attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha has killed three people and forced a suspension of operations, according to Yemeni officials. The strike, which occurred on Friday evening, targeted a facility under the control of the internationally recognized government.
Footage released on Saturday by a television station affiliated with the government-allied National Resistance Forces showed burnt boats, damaged warehouses, and debris scattered across the port. The visuals also captured smoke rising from burning vessels, underscoring the severity of the assault.
Port director Abdul-Malik al-Sharabi told journalists that the attack claimed the lives of three individuals, including two marines. He confirmed that port activities have been halted as a result of the damage.
Military spokesperson Colonel Majed al-Nazili stated that the Houthis launched six ballistic missiles in the attack. The National Resistance Forces, which control the area, are commanded by Tariq Saleh, a nephew of Yemen's late strongman leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The assault marks the latest in a series of Houthi strikes on government-held areas and neighboring Saudi Arabia. Analysts suggest the escalation reflects Iran's efforts to increase pressure on the United States and its regional allies, raising concerns that Yemen could be plunged back into full-scale civil war.