In brief
Xinhua reports that Houthi‑controlled Mocha suffered airstrikes on Wednesday, with no immediate casualties, as the Houthis attribute the attacks to Saudi warplanes. The city has been under Houthi control since Sept. 10, and Saudi officials have yet to comment.
Airstrikes hit the Houthi‑held port city of Mocha in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province on Wednesday, Xinhua reports, with no immediate casualties.
Al‑Masirah TV, the Houthi‑run channel, said the strikes were carried out by
“Saudi aggression warplanes”
Local residents reported powerful explosions across Mocha as warplanes struck areas where Houthi forces had recently deployed personnel and military equipment, Xinhua reported.
No comment has been issued by Saudi officials on the reported attacks.
Mocha was seized by the Houthis on Sept. 10 during a rapid southward advance along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast, and the group subsequently captured the Bab al‑Mandab area and Mayyun Island, a strategic strait linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, the outlet added.
Prior to the Wednesday strikes, the city had been a target of frequent air campaigns by the Saudi‑led coalition as part of its broader effort to pressure Houthi forces along the coast.
The city’s port facilities play a crucial role in the Red Sea maritime corridor, making aerial targeting there a high‑profile move in the conflict.
This follows a series of strikes on Mocha since Oct. 7, which reported no civilian casualties but claimed to disrupt Houthi logistics.
While the Houthi‑run media portrays the strikes as revenge, the Saudi coalition has repeatedly denied any involvement, citing a comprehensive audit of the air campaign data.
The lack of remarks from the Saudi side indicates an attempt to keep the reporting ambiguous as the coalition continues to coordinate with regional partners.
The incident underscores ongoing volatility in Yemen’s coastal regions, as both sides remain poised for further military action, Xinhua reports.
