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, accused the Houthi militia of attempting to drag Yemen into regional conflicts, stressing that the army is working to protect the people and the country’s resources.

In statements to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath on Sunday, Al-Sabri said the Houthis’ systematic attacks on civilian sites target the Yemeni people, describing these assaults as part of efforts to push the country into conflicts beyond its borders.

He added that the Yemeni armed forces are defending the interests of Yemenis while continuing to reorganize their ranks and enhance readiness.

The assistant minister explained that the army is maintaining its reorganization based on a unified doctrine, referring to ongoing efforts to strengthen coordination among its units and raise preparedness to confront developments on the ground.

Regarding the response to the Houthis, Al-Sabri said any actions taken by the army would be determined by the interests of the nation, without disclosing details about the nature or timing of potential operations.

His remarks come amid renewed escalation on Yemen’s western coast, following a large-scale Houthi attack on the city and port of Mocha that, according to a Yemeni military spokesperson, killed seven people.

Military sources and Al Arabiya’s correspondent reported that the Houthis used ballistic missiles, drones, and a booby-trapped boat in the assault, with one missile striking the staff housing of a field hospital in Mocha.

The director of Mocha port told Al Arabiya that several port workers were injured in the attack, noting that employees’ homes were also targeted by drones.

Meanwhile, government forces launched military operations against Houthi positions on the northern Al-Dhale front, using drones and artillery shelling.

This escalation has brought Mocha and the western coast back to the forefront of clashes, as the Yemeni Ministry of Defense affirms the army is reorganizing its ranks and that any future military steps will be determined by field developments and the government’s priorities to protect Yemen and its resources.