Houthi attacks force closure of Yemen's al-Makha port

Al-Makha port, a key commercial hub in Yemen, has ceased operations after sustained attacks by Houthi forces, creating immediate hardship for port employees and disrupting trade networks across the region. Workers face unemployment with little indication of when normal operations might resume, while merchants dependent on the port for import and export activities are reassessing their business strategies.

The port's closure comes amid broader instability in the Red Sea, where Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels have escalated maritime security concerns. Al-Makha's suspension adds to existing challenges facing Yemen's fragile economy, already strained by years of conflict and humanitarian crisis.

Traders have expressed alarm about the port's uncertain future, citing concerns over both the immediate loss of business and the longer-term viability of resuming operations. The closure affects not only those directly employed at the facility but also merchants, transporters, and supply chain operators who depend on its function.

Authorities have not provided a timeline for reopening the port, leaving workers and business owners in a state of uncertainty. The situation underscores the vulnerability of Yemen's critical infrastructure to ongoing security threats in the strategically important waterway.