Houthis say Saudi strike kills 6 in Yemen port city Mokha

In Yemen's strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha, at least six people were killed and eight others injured in Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, according to Yemen's Houthi-affiliated news agency Saba. The Houthi movement, backed by Iran, has made significant gains in recent weeks, taking control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including Mokha.

This offensive has left the Saudi-backed government struggling to respond. Yemen's governing body head, Rashad al-Alimi, held a call with US President Donald Trump, requesting American support against the pro-Iranian fighters. While Trump did not promise military support, the call was seen as a show of solidarity with Yemen's embattled government.

The Houthis' advances have solidified Iran and its allies' control over two key waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, which are crucial for Saudi Arabia's oil exports. The Yemeni conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis captured the capital Sanaa, and a peace agreement held since 2022 abruptly ended in July. Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition to support the internationally recognized government since 2015, significantly escalating the conflict that has resulted in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.