Yemeni Forces Strike Houthi Sites on West Coast, Inflicting Casualties

Yemeni government forces announced on Friday the execution of a series of airstrikes targeting Houthi gatherings and military positions in and around the city of Mokha and on the road leading to Dhubab on the west coast. The strikes reportedly destroyed vehicles and weapons and resulted in the deaths of numerous militants.

The Armed Forces' Information Center stated that the strikes hit five Houthi locations and gatherings, including sites within Mokha city, its surroundings, and along the route connecting it to Dhubab. One airstrike targeted a Houthi gathering near the port of Mokha, where forces reported the complete destruction of vehicles and weapons, along with the casualties of militants present at the site.

Another strike targeted a large gathering of Houthi elements near the "Zaid Al-Kharj" mall in central Mokha, while a third strike hit Houthi elements near the water project administration building in the city. Outside the city, forces reported that aircraft targeted a gathering of Houthi vehicles and personnel in the animal quarantine area, approximately 11 kilometers from Mokha, as well as another gathering within the former headquarters of a military commander in the northern part of the city.

The operations resulted in the deaths of Houthi elements and the destruction of several vehicles and weapons. In Hodeidah, medical sources reported that Bajil Hospital received 43 bodies of Houthi elements, adding that the casualties occurred during the airstrikes that took place on the west coast on Friday.

These strikes come amid escalating military activity on the west coast fronts, particularly around Mokha and Dhubab. These areas hold strategic importance due to their proximity to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical global shipping lane. The Yemeni government has stated that the military operations on the west coast aim to regain the battlefield initiative and curtail the Houthis' capacity to threaten coastal areas and maritime routes, amidst ongoing conflict in several western Yemeni fronts.