Yemen's Mocha port has suspended all commercial and maritime operations after sustaining damage from over 25 missile strikes attributed to Houthi attacks in recent days, according to the port's director.
The director stated during a press conference that the assaults resulted in seven fatalities and incurred an estimated $16 million in damages. Mocha, situated on the Red Sea and proximate to the strategically vital Bab el-Mandab strait, is a critical transit point for international shipping. Forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government control the port, which possesses a smaller cargo capacity compared to the country's principal ports of Aden and Hodeidah.
The Yemeni government reported on Friday that the Houthis launched six ballistic missiles at Mocha that day, targeting civilian, economic, and maritime facilities. This incident led to the deaths of at least four civilians.
Conversely, the Houthis claimed their targets were military installations and weapon build-ups belonging to Saudi-backed forces in Mocha. This escalation coincides with heightened regional tensions stemming from U.S. actions against Iran and has amplified concerns regarding a potential resurgence of widespread conflict in Yemen.
While major combat in Yemen had largely diminished following a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022, progress toward a sustainable political resolution has remained stagnant.
