Houthis strike al-Makha port, kill seven

Iran‑backed Houthi fighters fired ballistic missiles and drones at Yemen’s al‑Makha port on Monday, striking Saudi weapons depots and killing at least seven people, Yemen’s military said. The attack came just days after the coalition’s air forces struck a Houthi‑controlled airfield in the south, raising fears of a new escalation in the Red Sea. Al‑Makha is a key Saudi port on the Red Sea, handling a large share of the country’s imports and serving as a gateway for shipping to East Africa and the Gulf.

The Houthi movement has been fighting Saudi‑led forces since 2014, claiming to defend Yemen’s civilians from a Saudi‑Israeli coalition. Their strategy has shifted toward high‑profile attacks on Saudi infrastructure and international shipping lanes, hoping to pressure the coalition and draw global attention. Iran backs the Houthis and supplies them with drones and missile technology, which they use to target Saudi military bases and merchant vessels. The Red Sea is a vital artery for oil exports and global trade; any disruption can ripple through world markets. In recent months, Houthi forces have launched more than 20 drone and missile attacks on Saudi targets, and several commercial ships have been damaged or forced to reroute.

Saudi Arabia has vowed to respond swiftly. The kingdom’s defense ministry said it would increase air patrols over the Red Sea and launch counter‑strikes against Houthi positions. The coalition has already intensified strikes on Houthi supply lines in southern Yemen. Internationally, the United Nations has called for restraint, while shipping companies are urging the U.S. and other naval powers to patrol the Gulf of Aden more closely. If the cycle of attacks and retaliation continues, the Red Sea could become a flashpoint that threatens not only regional stability but also global oil flows.