S Arabia launches airstrikes on Mocha airport

DUBAI, Sept 11: Saudi Arabia launched two airstrikes on Friday targeting the airport of the strategic city of Mocha, now under Houthi control, according to the Iran-backed group's Al-Masirah TV channel.

Yemen's Houthis seized control of the Red Sea port city on Thursday after launching a major offensive against Saudi-supported Yemeni government forces around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

"The Saudi enemy launched two strikes on Mocha airport," the Houthi TV channel said.

A local government official told AFP later that "six missiles targeted the Mocha port," but he did not specify where they came from.

The Houthis seized a key island on Friday and appeared in control of land along the Yemeni side of the Bab al-Mandab, sealing their takeover of the vital artery for Saudi oil exports.

Hazem al-Assad from the Houthis' politburo told Al-Araby al-Jadeed news outlet on Friday that "there is no cause for international concern" over free navigation through the strait.

The waterway, which links Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, has gained importance as a transit route since the start of the wider Middle East war, which saw Iran blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

Both Brent North Sea Crude, the main international benchmark, and US oil contract WTI were above $100 on Friday.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper traveled to Saudi Arabia on Thursday for urgent coordination meetings, Axios reported.�"AFP