Houthi offensive in Mocha marks escalation in Red Sea security crisis
The attack on Mocha, described as one of the largest waves of violence since a 2022 truce, coincides with a Houthi naval blockade and new defence pacts between Riyadh, Turkey, and Pakistan.
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched a significant offensive against the government-held port city of Mocha on the Red Sea coast late Sunday, resulting in seven deaths and 30 injuries. The Yemeni military confirmed that four members of the armed forces and three civilians were killed, while air defences intercepted and shot down 11 Houthi drones involved in the strike.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed via Telegram that the attack targeted Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots. Footage broadcast by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV showed the launch of several ballistic missiles and drones, with the group also stating that residential neighbourhoods in Mocha were targeted alongside military infrastructure.
The incident represents one of the largest waves of Houthi strikes on Yemeni military positions and areas held by the Saudi-backed government since a 2022 truce. It occurs amidst heightened regional instability stemming from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has prompted Saudi Arabia to sign a defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan in recent weeks.
Concurrently, the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea last month, citing a Saudi siege in Yemen—an allegation denied by Riyadh. The rebel group also claimed to have attacked Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery on Sunday. The Saudi energy ministry confirmed a fire broke out at the facility but was extinguished with no injuries, though it did not specify the cause.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the new alliance between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan was not directed against Iran or any other country, but served as a general pledge to support security. Meanwhile, shipping traffic has shifted toward the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely off-limits to traffic, intensifying concerns over global supply chains.
