Yemen’s internationally recognized government has reported that a Houthi missile attack on the Red Sea port of al-Makha resulted in at least four deaths. Officials stated that the Iran-aligned group launched six ballistic missiles at the facility on Friday, marking a significant escalation in ongoing hostilities between the Houthis and their Saudi-backed rivals.
Government-aligned armed forces reported that the strike targeted civilian infrastructure and national assets, causing several fishing vessels to catch fire. While official government reports initially cited four civilian fatalities, an unnamed military official informed the AFP news agency that the death toll was at least eight, including two security personnel.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the operation, stating they targeted what they described as weapons, military buildups, and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces and “mercenaries.” The group asserted that their missile barrage successfully destroyed several boats and weapons caches at the port.
This violence occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional instability linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, where the Houthis have become a central front. Separately, the Houthi-run SABA news agency reported that the group targeted an Aramco facility in the Saudi city of Najran with a drone. According to a Houthi military source, this action was a retaliatory measure against Saudi military aircraft allegedly entering airspace over the Saada governorate. There has been no immediate confirmation of this strike from Saudi authorities or Aramco.
These developments follow a series of recent attacks, including a claim by the Houthis on Thursday that they deployed two drones against an Aramco refinery in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. The regional situation remains volatile as US-Iran diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Over the weekend, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued demands for the US to lift sanctions, end its blockade, withdraw troops, and provide reparations. US President Donald Trump rejected these terms, instead demanding compensation from Iran, even as Tehran and Oman move closer to an agreement regarding a new transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
