Houthis Fire Two Ballistic Missiles Toward Mocha and Red Sea, Yemeni Army Says

ADEN, Aug 17: Yemen’s army said Monday that the Houthi group launched two ballistic missiles toward the southwestern city of Mocha and the Red Sea, marking a new escalation amid growing regional tensions.

The Taiz Military Axis said the missiles were launched from the former headquarters of the 170th Air Defense Brigade on Mount Oman, east of Taiz, an area controlled by the Houthis.

The army did not report any casualties or damage from the missile launches, and the Houthis had not immediately commented on the claim.

The reported missile launches came a day after the National Resistance Forces, which support Yemen’s internationally recognized government, said the Houthis targeted Mocha with seven drones.

Yemen has experienced a relative lull in fighting since April 2022 after years of conflict between government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Iran-aligned Houthis, who seized Sanaa and large parts of the country in 2014.

Since late 2023, the Houthis have expanded their involvement in regional hostilities, launching attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the Gaza war. The renewed activity has raised concerns that Yemen could again slide into a wider conflict.