The attack struck port facilities and nearby neighborhoods in Mocha, located in Taiz Governorate near the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Media outlets linked to the Yemeni government cited medical sources who initially placed the death toll at seven and the number of injured at around 35.

Earlier, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for an operation involving ballistic missiles and drones against what he described as Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots in the Mocha area.

Saree asserted that the attacks hit their targets and caused casualties and material damage, although these claims could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the director of the port of Mocha, Abdul Malik al-Sharabi, reported that the offensive caused damage to civilian facilities and left workers injured.

The port of Mocha is located in an area controlled by forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government and is a strategic facility due to its proximity to Bab al-Mandeb, one of the main maritime routes between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The new attack comes amidst an escalation of clashes in Yemen and Houthi operations targeting Saudi interests and maritime routes in the region.

jdt/oda/fm