San’a, August 10: The Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a significant attack on Saudi-backed forces in the strategic port city of Mocha, located on the Red Sea coast in Yemen’s Taiz province.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced on the social media platform X that the operation targeted military gatherings and weapon depots in the Mocha area using a large number of ballistic missiles and drones.
Shortly before this announcement, a local government official informed the Xinhua news agency that the Houthis had launched several missiles toward the port, aiming at the “civilian area” within the port complex.
Residents of Mocha reported to Xinhua that multiple explosions were heard from the direction of the port, and smoke was seen rising from the area.
Mocha is situated near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and is considered vital for international shipping.
According to Xinhua, the port and surrounding coastal areas are under the control of forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
This attack comes amid escalating tensions in Yemen, with the Houthi group recently launching missile and drone strikes against government forces in the eastern provinces of Marib and Hadramaut.
Earlier on Sunday, the Houthi group also claimed to have conducted a drone attack on a Saudi Aramco refinery located in the southwestern Saudi city of Jazan. Tensions between both sides continue to rise.
Yahya Saree stated on X that the drones targeted the refinery, describing it as a “precise attack.” He added that this action was in response to Saudi Arabia sending drones into the airspace of the Saada and Hajjah provinces, which are under Houthi control and border Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi group did not provide any evidence to support its claims and did not disclose information about potential damage or casualties from the attacks.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry reported that industrial security and firefighting teams had contained a fire at a unit in the Jazan refinery, stating that there were no injuries reported from the incident.
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