Houthi Attack on Yemen’s Mocha Port Kills Seven, Injures 30

Seven people were killed and 30 others wounded after Houthi forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mocha, according to the Yemeni military.

In a statement issued early Monday, the military said the fatalities included four members of the armed forces and three civilians. The assault reportedly struck military positions as well as civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Mocha.

Yemeni air defence units intercepted and destroyed 11 Houthi drones involved in the attack, the military said. The number of missiles and drones launched during the operation was not immediately specified.

Footage broadcast by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV showed several ballistic missiles and drones being launched as part of the operation. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a Telegram post that the strikes were aimed at concentrations of Saudi troops and weapons depots.

The Yemeni military, however, said the Houthi attack also hit residential neighbourhoods in Mocha, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

Mocha is a strategically important port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Its location near major maritime routes gives the area significant importance amid Yemen’s prolonged conflict and wider tensions around the Red Sea.

The latest attack highlights the continuing security risks facing Yemen as Houthi forces employ missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against military targets. Civilian areas have also remained vulnerable as fighting continues between the Houthis and forces opposing the group.

Authorities had not provided further details on the condition of the 30 people injured in the Mocha attack as of the initial military statement. There was also no immediate independent assessment of the extent of damage caused by the strikes.

The incident comes amid persistent concerns over instability in Yemen and security around the Red Sea, a strategically important corridor for international shipping and regional trade.