**Yemen’s Houthis Launch Missile Attacks on Saudi-backed Forces in Mokha**
On Sunday, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels executed a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi-backed government forces in the port city of Mokha. The Houthis characterized the assault as a retaliatory measure against what they termed Saudi Arabia's "aggression" in the ongoing conflict that has ravaged Yemen for several years.
The escalation of hostilities follows a week of intensified fighting, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies. This comes in the context of the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route, due to heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the missile barrage was a direct response to the mobilization of government troops in Mokha and the ongoing siege imposed by Saudi forces. Reports from Yemeni government-aligned media indicated that the strikes resulted in the deaths of at least seven civilians, with around 35 others injured.
In a previous attack on Thursday, the Houthis had already launched coordinated strikes against government troops, reportedly killing or injuring up to 60 soldiers. The group has also declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, targeting vessels in the Red Sea as part of their military strategy.
Footage shared on social media depicted smoke rising from military depots belonging to the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) forces at Mokha Port, following the missile and drone strikes. Additional reports confirmed a fire at a facility belonging to Saudi Arabia's state oil company, Aramco, in Jazan province, attributed to the Houthi attacks.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti asserted that the strike on the Aramco facility was a direct response to Saudi violations of Yemeni airspace, particularly over the Saada and Hajjah regions. He emphasized the group's stance that Saudi Arabia must end its occupation and blockade of Yemen, framing their military actions as a necessary response to ongoing aggression.
The Houthis have maintained control over significant portions of western Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition aimed at supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Houthi insurgency. Although a UN-mediated truce brought a temporary reduction in violence starting in April 2022, the formal agreement expired in October of the same year.
The current wave of violence began on July 13, when government forces targeted a runway at Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. This delegation was returning from the funeral of Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in strikes attributed to US-Israeli operations in Tehran.
The UN Security Council has condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the region, as well as unauthorized landings of aircraft in areas not under the control of the Yemeni government. The ongoing conflict continues to draw international attention, with humanitarian concerns mounting as the situation in Yemen deteriorates further.
As the conflict escalates, the implications for regional stability and global energy markets remain a significant concern, with the potential for broader repercussions if hostilities continue to intensify.