The Yemeni army reported on Saturday that the Houthi group launched three ballistic missiles towards residential areas in the city of Marib, east of Sanaa. This follows recent military escalations including attacks on the Mocha port and military movements in the Taiz frontlines.
According to the Yemeni Armed Forces media center, the missiles targeted Marib neighborhoods densely populated with displaced individuals, but immediate reports on casualties or damages have not been disclosed.
The Marib attack followed hours after a missile strike at Mocha port in western Yemen. Speaking on the incident, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Maj. Gen. Majid Abdullah Al-Nazeeli stated that the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at the port on Friday night.
Official Yemeni sources reported that the Mocha strike resulted in the death of a security personnel, two mariners went missing, and eight civilians got injured. Different local sources provided varying casualty figures, and independent verification of these numbers was not possible.
Al-Nazeeli described the attack as targeting a "vital civilian facility and an economic and navigation hub," which plays a crucial role in Yemen's trade and essential goods' supply.
In response to the attacks, an official from the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council warned the Houthis of "severe retaliation," emphasizing that targeting civilian facilities, ports, and international shipping lanes will not go unpunished.
The official held the group accountable for the escalation's consequences, stating that the government forces will take legitimate actions to deter threats, protect civilians, and safeguard the nation’s critical infrastructure and interests.
The source suggested the recent attacks were a response to military pressures faced by the group on various fronts, asserting that government forces have grown more capable of deterring and addressing threats.
The Houthis were accused of cross-border attacks serving Iran's agenda and pushing Yemen towards regional conflicts, posing a threat to neighboring countries' security and regional stability.
The Presidential Leadership Council cautioned against the humanitarian impact of continued assaults on Mocha port, underlining its importance in facilitating food, medical supplies, fuel, and essential goods to millions of Yemenis.
Emphasizing the protection of ports, shipping lanes, and navigation freedom in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, they called for regional and international action, particularly from countries bordering these maritime routes.
Amid the missile escalations, new military activities emerged on the western front of Taiz. The governmental forces announced artillery strikes on Houthi reinforcements on Friday night.
A military source informed the Yemeni News Agency "Saba" that the strikes targeted movements and reinforcements, including tanks and heavy artillery across the Sharab junction, Siahi, Hazran, and around the 35th Armored Brigade camp.
The source added that the Houthis had sent additional equipment and forces to the western frontlines to reinforce their positions, affirming that government forces heightened their readiness in anticipation of any potential attacks.
The simultaneous missile launches on Marib and Mocha, alongside military actions in Taiz, indicate a widening escalation across multiple fronts, with concerns of escalating into more intense confrontations following Yemeni authorities' threats to respond to the recent attacks.