Saudi-Led Strikes on Yemen’s Mokha Kill Six, Houthis Say
SANAA, YEMEN — WEB DESK: Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen’s strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha killed at least six people and wounded eight others, according to the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency, as fighting intensifies between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.
Saba said those killed were civilians and included two children and a woman. Among the eight people reported wounded were a child and a woman. The casualty figures originated from Houthi-affiliated media and could not immediately be independently verified.
The strikes came amid a sharp escalation in Yemen, where Houthi forces have recently advanced through strategically important areas along the Red Sea coast. Reuters reported that the Houthis had earlier seized Mokha and subsequently pushed towards highland areas as they sought to consolidate territorial gains.
Mokha’s location gives the city considerable strategic importance. The port lies near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and wider international shipping routes.
Recent Houthi advances and attacks have heightened Saudi security concerns. The group has claimed drone and ballistic missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, including energy infrastructure and Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has meanwhile increased crude exports through its Gulf terminals following disruption to its East-West Pipeline. Reuters reported that a September 13 drone attack halted crude shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, prompting Saudi Aramco to increase exports from eastern terminals.
The escalation has also drawn wider international attention. G7 foreign ministers meeting during the UN General Assembly called on the Houthis to halt military operations and attacks on civilian shipping. They also called on Iran to end what the group described as its arming and support for the Houthis. The allegations regarding Iranian support reflect the G7 position and should be attributed accordingly.
Britain has separately announced limited military assistance to Saudi Arabia, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying the Royal Air Force would provide air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi aircraft. The British government described the assistance as defensive.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has also sought additional international backing. According to the Express report, Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi spoke with US President Donald Trump and sought US support against the Houthis. A source in al-Alimi’s office said Trump did not promise direct military assistance during the conversation.
The latest strikes underscore the renewed volatility surrounding Yemen’s conflict, with developments around Mokha and Bab el-Mandeb carrying implications beyond Yemen because of the area’s importance to global shipping and energy flows.
