Houthi Forces Escalate Attacks in Red Sea and Western Coast

Houthi militants launched a series of ballistic missile strikes and drone attacks against the Yemeni Western Coast and liberated islands in the Red Sea on Thursday, prompting defensive maneuvers from the Yemeni Navy.

According to the military media of the National Resistance, the Houthi militia fired four ballistic missiles toward liberated islands overlooking international shipping lanes. Simultaneously, the Yemeni Navy successfully intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden suicide drone before it could reach its intended target.

Military officials indicated that the offensive followed a significant operation in which the Yemeni Navy intercepted a smuggling shipment containing components used in drone manufacturing, allegedly originating from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. In addition to the missile strikes, the Yemeni Navy thwarted an attempt by Houthi vessels to infiltrate and approach strategic positions near the liberated islands.

The escalation also impacted civilian infrastructure in the region. A Houthi ballistic missile struck the densely populated village of Qataba, north of Al-Khokha district, destroying a residential home and causing structural damage to surrounding properties. A second ballistic missile was fired into an area south of Al-Khokha, marking a continued pattern of aggression against coastal communities and civilian facilities.