Yemeni defense official: Houthis dragging country into regional conflict after Mocha port attack

Yemen's Assistant Minister of Defense for Public Policy and International Cooperation, Major General Samir Al-Sabri, has accused the Houthi militia of deliberately dragging the nation into regional conflicts. In statements to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, Al-Sabri emphasized that the Yemeni army is working diligently to safeguard the country and its citizens.

He alleged that the Houthi attacks on civilian sites are part of their strategy to push Yemen into conflicts beyond its borders. These assaults, according to Al-Sabri, are systematic and target the Yemeni people. He further explained that the Yemeni armed forces are continuously reorganizing their ranks and enhancing readiness to counter the ongoing challenges.

The army is maintaining a unified doctrine and strengthening coordination among its units to raise preparedness. The assault on the city and port of Mocha, which resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, was attributed to a large-scale Houthi attack. The attackers utilized ballistic missiles, drones, and a booby-trapped boat.

The port's director informed Al Arabiya that several port workers were injured in the attack, and their homes were also targeted by drones. Government forces have launched military operations against Houthi positions on the northern Al-Dhale front, employing drones and artillery shelling. This escalation has once again brought Mocha and the western coast to the forefront of the conflict, with the Yemeni Ministry of Defense reiterating the army's commitment to reorganizing and protecting the nation and its resources.