Yemeni Forces Strike Houthi Positions Near Mocha Port

Yemeni government forces claim they hit Houthi fighters and their vehicles near Mocha on Saturday. This attack comes after the group took full control of that strategic Red Sea shoreline earlier this week. The western coast saw a sharp military escalation as fighting intensified there. Government troops are calling this confrontation a battle for survival.

Saba, the state news agency, reported that armed forces destroyed weapons and killed militia members backed by Iran. They targeted these assets near Mocha port. Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, who serves as spokesperson for government forces, confirmed strikes on the road between Dhubab and Mocha. That stretch sits eleven kilometers from the city center.

The Houthis captured Mocha on Thursday. They also took the island of Mayun on Friday. These moves completed their hold over the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This narrow waterway is vital for global oil shipping lanes. Saudi Arabia temporarily closed its East-West pipeline after drone strikes hit it on Friday. That conduit stretches 1,200 kilometers across the Arabian Peninsula.

Investigators are looking into where those drones originated. Reports say they launched from Iraq. No group has claimed responsibility yet. Haybat al-Halbousi, speaker of Iraq's parliament, condemned using Iraqi soil for such attacks. He called it unacceptable and against national policies. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked President Trump twice last week for US air strikes. Those requests were turned down according to Axios.

President Trump arrived in Dublin for a two-day visit on Saturday. He stated that the Houthis asked Washington not to intervene. The Houthis reportedly told him they do not want to fight or invite attacks. Meanwhile, the head of US Central Command is now in Saudi Arabia. A source told Al Jazeera this official is there for talks about these rapid advances.