Houthi Attacks Halt Commercial Operations at Yemen's Mocha Port

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Yemen's Mocha port has suspended commercial and maritime operations following repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks. Abdulmalik al-Sharabi, the port's director, stated the attacks caused an estimated $16 million in damages. The Houthi movement launched fresh missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea port city of Mocha and the government-held city of Marib. These attacks wounded civilians, damaged property, and forced the suspension of commercial operations at the port. This latest escalation comes as fighting resumes across several Yemeni provinces after a relative lull that had largely held since April 2022. Yemen's Marib Governorate reported that Houthis fired six ballistic missiles and launched four drones at residential neighborhoods in Marib city on Saturday and Sunday. These attacks wounded at least four people and damaged homes, vehicles, and other civilian property. One strike hit a bakery in al-Sharika north of Marib city, wounding one person. The Marib media office called on the international community to condemn these attacks and crimes targeting displacement camps, residential neighbourhoods and civilian facilities, and document them as violations of international humanitarian law. On Friday, Yemen's government stated that Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at Mocha, killing at least four civilians and targeting civilian, economic, and maritime facilities. The Yemeni armed forces, aligned with the government, said one port security guard was killed, two sailors were missing, and eight civilians were wounded. The Houthis, however, claimed they targeted a military build-up of weapons and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces in Mocha. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the rebels targeted concentrations and weapons belonging to the Saudi enemy in the al-Mokha area. The escalation has raised concerns about a return to large-scale conflict in Yemen, where a years-long civil conflict killed tens of thousands and displaced millions before a 2022 truce. Efforts to reach a lasting political settlement have stalled. Saudi Arabia announced the formal launch of a multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at safeguarding shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with 13 countries joining.

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