Houthi Missile Attack on al-Makha Port Kills Four

Houthi forces launched six ballistic missiles at the port city of al-Makha on Friday, killing at least four people. The internationally recognized government of Yemen reported that the attack targeted civilian infrastructure and national assets, resulting in four civilian deaths and several fishing boats being set on fire. One military official cited by AFP suggested the death toll could be as high as eight, including two security personnel. Colonel Abdulá Al Nuzaily, a spokesperson for the Yemen Armed Forces, stated that the attack also left eight people injured and warned that the military would respond severely.

The Houthis claimed the missiles targeted weapons, warships, and buildups of Saudi backed forces and mercenaries. Additionally, the Houthi run SABA news agency reported a drone attack on an Aramco facility in the Saudi city of Najran, which they described as a response to Saudi aircraft entering airspace over the Saada governorate. Saudi authorities and Aramco did not immediately confirm the drone strike.

Outlets with a center right lean framed the event as a criminal aggression by Iranian backed militias intended to impose a suffocating blockade and threaten the food security of the Yemeni people. Outlets with a center left lean framed the event as part of a broader escalation of regional tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran, noting that the violence coincides with stalled diplomacy between the US and Iran.