Houthis renew missile and drone attacks on Yemen's al-Makha port

Yemen's Houthis have launched a renewed wave of missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha, extending an assault on government-held areas along the country's western coast. The latest strikes came on Sunday evening, less than 24 hours after an earlier barrage hit al-Makha and its commercial port. Government forces said the renewed attack was intercepted in part, but the incident added to damage and casualties already reported from the first wave.

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Yemeni government forces said air defences intercepted six drones during the latest assault, while two ballistic missiles fell into the sea without striking their targets. Footage broadcast by a Houthi-affiliated television channel showed missiles and drones being launched. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the operation targeted Saudi troop concentrations and weapon depots in the area, according to Reuters.

The Houthis also said the attack involved a large number of ballistic missiles and drones and was launched in response to what they described as a continued Saudi military buildup along Yemen's western coast and in Taiz province. The earlier attacks on al-Makha killed at least 11 people, including eight military personnel and three civilians, and wounded 32 others, according to the latest toll cited by AFP. Government authorities said buildings and commercial facilities were hit, while AP reported damage to port infrastructure, commercial goods and food supplies.

Government forces also said they intercepted and destroyed an unmanned explosive boat approaching the commercial port. During the renewed attacks later on Sunday, the National Resistance Forces, which are aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government, urged residents of al-Makha to stay indoors and accused the Houthis of indiscriminate shelling. The strikes matter because al-Makha sits on Yemen's western coast near a strategic Red Sea corridor and its port is important for commercial traffic and supplies.

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Damage to port infrastructure can affect the movement of goods and food in a country already facing prolonged conflict and economic strain. Repeated attacks in the same area also raise the risk of wider disruption along the coast, where government forces and Houthi units have remained in confrontation for years. The latest escalation comes against the backdrop of Yemen's long-running war, in which the Houthis control large parts of the north and west while the internationally recognised government retains other areas with support from allied forces.

Al-Makha has been a contested location because of its position on the coast and its proximity to other flashpoints in Taiz province and around Hodeidah. The involvement of drones, ballistic missiles and an explosive boat also shows the range of weapons being used in the coastal fighting. What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage from the renewed strikes and whether the attacks will continue beyond al-Makha.

It is also not clear how much of the reported military target set was actually hit, given the government claim that several drones were intercepted and missiles fell into the sea. The situation will be watched for any further attacks on the port, any additional casualty reports, and whether the escalation spreads to other coastal districts.

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