The Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen carried out a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia using missiles and drones. Tensions have also risen as the Houthi forces continue to expand their dominance by capturing one area after another in Yemen.
A civil war has been going on in Yemen for about 12 years between government forces and Houthi forces. Iran has been supporting the Houthi forces in this conflict. Government forces are supported by countries including Saudi Arabia. In retaliation for attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, the Houthi forces have been carrying out occasional attacks on Israel and on Saudi Arabia, which hosts U.S. bases.
With Iran having closed the Strait of Hormuz, a route heavily used by crude oil tankers, Gulf countries have been using the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, another strait along the Red Sea near Yemen. In this situation, Houthi forces recently captured Mocha, the key island and coastal city in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Through this, the Houthi forces have expanded their influence in Yemen.
This is seen as a favorable development for the Houthi forces and a major setback for the Yemeni government forces. Likewise, there are fears that Houthi dominance in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait could increase further.
Following this, Houthi forces continued their attacks on Saudi Arabia on Saturday night by launching missiles and drones. The Houthi military spokesperson said that the attack targeted a Saudi military base in the Sarura province of the Najran region.
The Saudi security forces said that 2 people were injured in the Houthi attack, and that a mosque and some buildings were damaged. No announcement was made by Saudi Arabia regarding whether a retaliatory response was carried out against the Houthi attack or not.
Yemen government confirms: As Houthi forces advanced, thousands of people living in the city of Mocha migrated to other places. Likewise, it was said that the government troops stationed there also fled to another area. In this situation, a senior Yemeni government official firmly stated that the Yemeni government forces are regrouping and will soon return to the city of Mocha to fight the Houthi forces.
Across the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait lies the African country of Djibouti. Military bases of the United States, China, and Japan are located in that country. It is noteworthy that the Houthi forces have seized the island and coastal city in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait area, which is 32 kilometers away from there.
