Yemen’s strategic Mokha port on the Red Sea has suspended operations following a series of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels that killed seven people and caused an estimated $16 million in losses. The development comes amid escalating tensions across West Asia, with another ship attack reported in the Strait of Hormuz as the US and Iran continue to clash over control of the critical waterway.
The latest attacks have renewed concerns over the security of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the possibility of the Yemen conflict escalating into a wider confrontation.
Why Has Yemen’s Mokha Port Suspended Operations?
Mokha port has faced repeated missile attacks by the Houthis in recent days, prompting authorities to suspend operations over the weekend. The port is one of several facilities and shipping routes affected by the wider regional conflict. The Houthis have increasingly targeted US allies and commercial shipping during the ongoing Iran war, raising concerns over further disruption to maritime trade.
Who Are The Houthis?
The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, are an armed group from Yemen’s Zaidi Shia Muslim community. The group seized control of large parts of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, following years of political and military upheaval after the Arab Spring.
The Houthis are backed by Iran and form part of Tehran’s broader regional network of allied armed groups, often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance”. The group entered the current regional conflict in March by launching missile attacks towards Israel, after Israel and the US began military operations against Iran.
Why Is There A War In Yemen?
The conflict in Yemen dates back more than a decade and primarily involves the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which has been backed by Saudi Arabia and its allies. Saudi Arabia launched a major military intervention against the Houthis in 2015 in an effort to restore the government and push the group out of territory it had captured. The conflict contributed to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
A truce was reached in 2022, significantly reducing the intensity of fighting, but it did not result in a permanent peace agreement. Yemen’s internationally recognised government now operates through the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, while the Houthis continue to control significant parts of northern Yemen and the Red Sea coastline.
Could Houthi Attacks Trigger A Wider Yemen Conflict?
The latest attacks have raised concerns that the fragile calm in Yemen could break down and lead to renewed large-scale fighting. Saudi Arabia has continued supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government through economic and military measures, while the Houthis have sought to challenge restrictions on areas under their control. With tensions already rising across the Red Sea, Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, further Houthi attacks could add another major flashpoint to the wider regional conflict.
