Yemen’s strategic Red Sea port of Mokha has halted all commercial and maritime operations after enduring more than 25 missile strikes from Houthi forces over recent days, the port’s director announced on Saturday.
The attacks killed seven people, including four members of the armed forces and three civilians, while injuring 30 others, according to the Yemeni military. Damage to the port’s infrastructure is estimated at approximately $16 million. The port director said the strikes specifically targeted the berth where a dredger was stationed, in what he described as a deliberate attempt to disable maritime traffic completely.
Escalating Houthi Campaign
The latest wave of attacks is part of a broader Houthi escalation that has lasted roughly two weeks, with Iran-aligned forces targeting military positions and vital facilities across government-controlled provinces. On Friday, the Houthis confirmed launching six ballistic missiles at Mokha, claiming their targets were military facilities and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces.
Brigadier General Sadiq Duwaid, spokesman for the National Resistance Forces, said the group launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at the city, its port, and surrounding facilities in recent days. He believes the Houthis turned to targeting civilian infrastructure after suffering losses on the battlefronts, while government forces say the attacks aim to weaken economic activity and deprive residents of essential services.
Red Sea Under Pressure
The closure of Mokha adds to mounting pressure on Red Sea shipping routes already strained by the broader Iran war. Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port, which handles approximately 15% of Asia’s seaborne crude imports, has seen visible crude loadings fall by at least 30 percent following the Houthis’ declaration of a maritime blockade on the kingdom, according to Kpler and AXSMarine data.
Vortexa analyst George Morris noted a clear increase in crude tankers heading north after loading in the Red Sea, reflecting renewed security risks around the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Cargoes loaded at Yanbu accounted for around 15% of Asia’s seaborne crude and condensate imports in June, so any sustained disruption has meaningful implications for Asian refiners, Morris said.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, expressed deep concern over the recent attacks, calling them the most significant intensification of military activity since the 2022 UN-brokered truce. He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and warned of the rising risk of a return to full-scale conflict.
The port closure compounds existing disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic remains severely restricted amid the ongoing US-Iran standoff. With two of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints now under simultaneous pressure, energy analysts warn of further supply chain disruptions across global oil and gas markets.
Sources: Reuters; Asharq Al-Awsat; Al Arabiya; Yemen Monitor; Kpler; Vortexa
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