The Yemeni navy thwarted an attack by the Iran-backed Houthi group in the southern Red Sea, hours after busting an attempt to smuggle equipment believed to be used in the manufacturing of drones. The bust indicates that the Houthis are continuing their military and logistic activities on the Yemeni coasts and international marine passages. Military media of the national resistance on the western Yemeni coast said naval patrols detected five Houthi vessels that had tried to approach the region overlooking international waterways. A clash ensued and the Houthis were forced to retreat north towards Hodeidah. The forces also downed a drone that was on a surveillance mission. Hours earlier, the navy busted the smuggling attempt. Drone material was being smuggled on a wooden boat from Iran to the Houthis. The Houthis have escalated their ground and sea attacks in recent weeks, using drones and ballistic missiles against civilian and military installations along the west coast. The militants have also attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. On Wednesday night, the Houthis fired four ballistic missiles at Mokha port west of Taiz city. Three hit the port, while the fourth landed inside Khokha city, a military source told the state news agency Saba. The missiles were fired in regions held by the Houthis east of Taiz city. The attack was the latest by the Houthis on Mokha that have left extensive damage to the port, which is vital to the west coast. The Houthis also attacked central Taiz city on Wednesday using mortars, damaging a judicial building. No casualties were reported. Yemeni authorities say that Houthi attacks on civilian facilities and residential areas in Taiz has become normal as the city and its surroundings are on the frontline between the government forces and Houthis.
