Yemen’s Houthis have launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on the Red Sea port city of al-Makha (Mocha), extending an assault on government-held areas along Yemen’s western coast and killing at least seven more people less than 24 hours after earlier attacks killed at least 11.

The latest attacks came on Sunday evening, following an earlier barrage that struck al-Makha and its commercial port. Yemen’s armed forces said on Monday that four military personnel and three civilians were killed in the latest assault, while 30 others were wounded, most of them civilians.

The military said air defences intercepted and shot down 11 drones involved in the attack. Two ballistic missiles were also reported to have fallen into the sea without hitting their targets.

Footage broadcast by the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV showed several ballistic missiles and drones being launched. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the operation targeted Saudi troop concentrations and weapon depots in the area, according to the Reuters news agency.

Seven killed in latest attack

Yemen’s armed forces said the latest missile and drone assault killed seven people and wounded 30 others. It said most of those wounded had been discharged after receiving treatment.

The military said the attacks targeted civilian facilities and infrastructure, residents’ homes, electricity-generating stations and other sites inside the city, as well as military positions.

The casualties came after an earlier wave of attacks on al-Makha on Sunday killed at least 11 people, including eight military personnel and three civilians, and wounded 32 others, according to the toll cited by the AFP news agency.

The earlier strikes also caused extensive damage at al-Makha’s port. Government authorities said buildings and commercial facilities were hit, while The Associated Press reported damage to port infrastructure, commercial goods and food supplies.

Government forces also said they intercepted and destroyed an unmanned explosive boat approaching the commercial port.

During the renewed attacks later on Sunday, the National Resistance Forces, which are aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, urged residents of al-Makha to remain indoors, accusing the Houthis of carrying out indiscriminate shelling.

Houthis say Saudi military buildup prompted attack

The Houthis said the operation involved a large number of ballistic missiles and drones, and was launched in response to an alleged continued Saudi military buildup, including the reinforcement of allied forces with weapons and equipment along Yemen’s western coast and in Taiz province.

Houthi political council member Hizam al-Assad separately claimed that continuing explosions, fires and columns of smoke from the port were caused by large quantities of weapons and military equipment stored there.

Attacks extend to al-Khokha

The escalation was not limited to al-Makha, but also targeted the al-Khokha district, south of the coastal city of Hodeidah.

Al-Jumhuriya television, which is affiliated with the National Resistance Forces led by Presidential Leadership Council member Tareq Saleh, said the government-appointed governor of Hodeidah, al-Hassan Taher, survived an assassination attempt on Sunday after a Houthi ballistic missile struck his residence in the district.