Tragic Houthi Missile and Drone Attack on al-Makha Port Leaves Multiple Dead Amid Rising Regional Hostilities

Smoke rises during Houthi missile and drone strikes on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha, Yemen, August 9, 2026 [Reuters]. The Houthis have launched an attack on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha (Mocha), killing at least four people, according to Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

The government reported that the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at al-Makha on Friday amid an ongoing escalation in hostilities between the Iran-aligned group and its Saudi-backed opponents. Armed forces aligned with the Yemeni government stated that the strike targeted civilian infrastructure and national assets at the port, with initial reports confirming four civilian deaths and several fishing boats set ablaze.

Meanwhile, an unnamed military official from Yemen’s government informed the AFP news agency that the strike resulted in at least eight fatalities, including two security personnel. This sharp escalation coincides with heightened regional tensions surrounding the US-Israel war on Iran, in which the Houthis have positioned themselves as a key front, raising concerns about a potential return to large-scale conflict in Yemen.

In response, the Houthis claimed they targeted what they described as buildups, weapons, and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces and “mercenaries” in al-Makha using a large volume of ballistic missiles, successfully destroying boats and weapons. Additionally, the Houthi-run SABA news agency reported that a military source stated the group targeted an Aramco facility in the Saudi city of Najran using a drone, citing the action as retaliation for Saudi military aircraft entering airspace over the northeastern part of Yemen’s Saada governorate. However, the report did not specify the exact target or confirm a direct hit, and there was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities or Aramco.

These reported incidents follow a broader surge in hostilities between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Just on Thursday, the Houthis announced they had struck an Aramco refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan using two drones.

The flare-up of violence in Yemen unfolds against the backdrop of stalled US-Iran diplomacy. Over the weekend, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council demanded that the US terminate its blockade, lift sanctions, withdraw troops, and pay reparations. In counter-response, US President Donald Trump insisted that Iran pay compensation instead, even as diplomatic talks between Iran and Oman near a final agreement concerning a new transit corridor through Hormuz.