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- Iran-backed Houthi rebels renew attacks on key port city (thehill.com)
Iran-Backed Houthis Renew Attacks on Yemeni Port City Amid Red Sea Tensions
The Houthi rebel group, supported by Iran, has intensified its offensive against the Yemeni government-controlled city of Mokha, a strategically important port along the Red Sea. This escalation comes as part of the Houthis’ blockade targeting Saudi exports, a response to ongoing conflicts involving Iran.
Recently, a commercial vessel off Mokha’s coast in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was struck by missiles, resulting in the deaths of three Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian national, according to Yemeni officials. Yemen’s Transportation Ministry confirmed that three missiles hit the ship, while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations acknowledged the attack and stated that investigations are underway.
This incident marks the first fatalities linked to Houthi attacks on maritime traffic in the strait since the rebels implemented their blockade last month. The blockade was described by the Houthis as a reaction to what they call a Saudi siege. Meanwhile, ongoing clashes across Yemen have led to numerous casualties among government forces and civilians, according to Yemen’s military.
Saudi Arabia has denied allegations of imposing a siege on the Houthis. In contrast, Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdul-Salam accused Saudi Arabia of breaching the ceasefire agreement between the two sides but emphasized on social media that the Houthis remain open to dialogue and negotiations.
The conflict traces back to 2014, when the Houthis seized Yemen’s capital, prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene militarily the following year. The war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives before reaching a ceasefire in April 2022.
In broader regional developments, the Houthis issued warnings in March against increased aggression from the U.S., Israel, and Gulf countries toward Iran, advocating for diplomatic solutions and supporting Palestinian self-determination in Gaza and the West Bank.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has previously stated that he would hold Iran responsible for Houthi attacks.
The Houthi blockade in the Red Sea follows Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and gas shipping route responsible for about 20 percent of world exports. This disruption has contributed to a surge in global fuel prices, though the U.S. national average gas price recently declined to $4.01 per gallon, reflecting a temporary easing of tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
- Reporting contributed by The Associated Press
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- Iran-backed Houthi rebels renew attacks on key port city (thehill.com)