Houthis in Yemen launch ballistic missile strikes on al-Makha and Marib.
In the face of escalating violence in Yemen, a new wave of missile attacks has heightened concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region. Recent strikes attributed to Houthi forces have caused casualties and damage in the historically significant port city of al-Makha, while military exchanges intensify between opposing factions. As tensions build, the urgent need for dialogue and de-escalation becomes paramount to safeguard the Yemeni populace and secure a peaceful resolution to a protracted crisis.
The armed forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government have accused Houthi forces of launching a series of ballistic missile attacks targeting both the Red Sea port city of al-Makha, also known as Mocha, and residential zones in the central city of Marib. While Yemeni authorities have not reported any casualties from the latest attacks, they follow a tragic incident in which Houthi missiles killed at least seven people and injured 30 others in al-Makha, causing extensive damage to vital port infrastructure.
In a separate incident on the same day, Houthi drone strikes in the southern central province of Shabwa resulted in the deaths of two Yemeni government soldiers and wounded seven others, as reported by local media. In response, Yemeni forces announced that they had conducted targeted operations against Houthi positions in eastern al-Jawf province, northwest Saada province, and the al-Tibas area of central Marib province.
These recent exchanges mark a significant escalation in Yemen’s ongoing civil war, which has waxed and waned over the years amid various political dynamics. The conflict, initiated by the Iran-backed Houthis capturing Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in September 2014, prompted intervention by a Saudi-led coalition supporting the government in March 2015. While a truce in April 2022 managed to quell major hostilities, the delicate peace has proven vulnerable.
The renewed violence notably escalated following a Saudi airstrike on the runway of Sanaa airport on July 13, 2023, which hindered an Iranian flight carrying a high-ranking Houthi delegation. In retaliation, Houthis launched attacks on the Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia and enforced a blockade on Saudi shipping routes in the Red Sea, leading to disruptions that could have far-reaching implications for the global economy.
In response to these developments, the Saudi-led coalition has undertaken military strikes against Houthi-occupied regions, including Hodeidah and Kamaran, Yemen’s largest island in the Red Sea. There is a concerted effort to bolster Yemeni troops along vital front lines, potentially setting the stage for a ground offensive against Houthi positions.
The United Nations has issued a call for restraint amidst growing concern over a large-scale conflict re-emerging in Yemen. UN envoy Hans Grundberg emphasized the precarious situation, warning that the gains achieved during the UN-brokered truce of April 2022 are at risk. He underscored the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to prevent Yemen from getting further drawn into a broader regional confrontation, which would carry devastating consequences for its people.
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