Houthi strike on Mocha kills 7, wounds 30

A Houthi missile strike and drone attack on the Yemeni port city of Mocha killed seven people, including soldiers and civilians, and wounded 30 on Wednesday, the country’s military said.

The assault targeted the Red Sea coastal town that handles commercial traffic and humanitarian aid shipments. Mocha sits 100 miles south of the key Houthi-held port of Hodeidah, making it a frequent flashpoint in the years-long civil war. The attack follows a pattern of cross-border strikes that escalated after the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023. Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis have traded fire along the western front, using missiles and drones to disrupt supply routes and pressure each other’s positions.

The Yemeni army reported the strike hit a power station and a military post, with most of the casualties among soldiers. Civil defense teams said 12 civilians were among the wounded, including children in nearby homes. A Houthi military spokesman did not immediately comment, but the group has previously framed strikes on Mocha as retaliation for Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in northern Yemen.

The port’s closure or reduced operations would worsen food and fuel shortages in government-held areas already strained by aid cuts. Aid agencies have warned Mocha’s small but active trade lane is a lifeline for millions. If the fighting intensifies, shipping lines may reroute goods to safer ports, pushing up prices and delaying deliveries. The next 48 hours could show whether the Houthis widen their campaign or shift to negotiations, as both sides weigh the cost of further escalation.