Yemen suspends Mocha port operations after Houthi attacks kill 7

The Yemeni administration of Mocha port suspended commercial and maritime operations on Saturday following a series of attacks by Houthi forces in recent days, officials said. The strikes involved more than 25 missiles, ballistic projectiles and intensive drone flights targeting the facility. Port authorities told a press conference that seven people were killed and the attacks caused an estimated $16 million in damage, figures also reported by Reuters. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, saying the operation targeted forces, weapons and military vessels. Mocha port lies near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key corridor for international shipping, and serves as the main outlet on Yemen's western coast for areas under government control. Its location has made it a strategically important site since the start of the conflict. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said the country faces its most dangerous trajectory toward large-scale war since the 2022 ceasefire, citing recent attacks in Mocha, Marib and Hadramaut that caused military and civilian casualties. No further details on the port's resumption of operations were immediately available.