Yemeni Forces Counter Houthi Strikes After Missile Wave Targets Port City of al-Makha

 AL-MAKHA / SANAA — The internationally recognized government forces of Yemen have initiated targeted counter-military operations against Houthi rebel positions following a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks directed at critical port infrastructure and residential districts.

Yemen al-Makha Houthi Missile Strike 2026

The escalation centers around the Red Sea port city of al-Makha, also known as Mocha, and the central province of Marib. According to official statements from Yemeni military representatives, Houthi forces launched multiple projectiles targeting maritime infrastructure, resulting in casualties and substantial structural damage at al-Makha's port facility.

Escalation Across Multiple Fronts

Reports indicate that the wave of aerial strikes extended beyond the coast. In the south-central province of Shabwa, a military drone attack targeted government positions, resulting in security personnel casualties. Additional missile impacts were recorded near residential neighborhoods in central Marib.

In response, Yemeni armed forces initiated artillery barrages and targeted artillery strikes against rebel positions situated in eastern al-Jawf, northwestern Saada, and key sectors within Marib province. Local authorities confirmed that restoration work has commenced at the damaged port of al-Makha to secure commercial shipping access and evaluate structural integrity.

Regional Security and International Response

The renewed hostility along critical maritime corridors has prompted heightened international concern. Saudi Arabia has deployed military leadership under Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem al-Shehri to manage naval defense coordination and protect commercial shipping lanes passing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Diplomatic representatives from the United Nations Security Council and global powers issued statements calling for immediate de-escalation, warning that continued targeting of civilian infrastructure risks deepening the humanitarian challenges in the region.

With both sides intensifying operations across eastern and coastal provinces, regional security observers note that stability along key Bab al-Mandab maritime transit routes remains precarious.