Israeli strikes on Yemen highlight critical role of Hodeidah port


Ismaeel Naar
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Nestled on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, Hodeidah is more than merely a gateway for goods.

The port, which was heavily bombed and put out of action on Saturday by Israeli air strikes, has been a lifeline for a country grappling with war, economic turmoil and one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

As Yemen's principal port, Hodeidah has been crucial for the survival of millions of citizens, making it a focal point of humanitarian efforts and military conflict.

Even before the war, it handled most imports in a country where 90 per cent of food had to be imported. But after Hodeidah was taken over by Iran-backed Houthi militias, Yemen's internationally recognised government has long accused the rebel movement of controlling the distribution of supplies from the port, deciding who benefits from foreign aid.

A major element of contention in the Yemeni conflict has been the restrictions on the import of fuel and humanitarian goods into Yemen, where millions of people are on the brink of famine.

Israeli warplanes killed three people in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port of Hodeidah on Saturday, following the group's fatal drone attack in Tel Aviv. The strikes on the vital port, which triggered a raging fire and plumes of black smoke, were the first by Israel in Yemen, about 2,000km away.

Yemen’s economic lifeline

Its strategic importance is underscored by its location on key maritime routes connecting Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Control of the port translates into significant influence over the Red Sea's maritime traffic, impacting global shipping routes. For Yemen, Hodeidah is a vital entry point for goods essential to both the local economy and regional trade.

Economically, Hodeidah has also underpinned much of Yemen’s commercial activity. The port generates substantial revenue through tariffs and customs duty, critical for the country's fragile financial state.

These inflows have historically supported government functions and public services, essential for maintaining a semblance of stability in a nation torn by conflict.

Workers load a lorry with sacks of food supplies at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah in western Yemen. AFP
Workers load a lorry with sacks of food supplies at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah in western Yemen. AFP

Who has control?

Since the Yemeni Civil War erupted in 2015, control of Hodeidah port has been fiercely contested. Currently, it is under the control of Houthi rebels, who seized it from internationally recognised Yemeni government forces early in the conflict.

This has provided the Houthis with significant leverage, allowing them to regulate the flow of goods and resources into Yemen.

Both the ports of Hodeidah and Salif on the Red Sea are controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.

The Saudi-led coalition has said the Houthis use the ports as launching points for military operations. A peace deal was signed by Yemen's warring sides in Stockholm in 2018, aiming to keep the ports operational. However, air and sea access to Houthi-held areas is controlled by the coalition, which intervened at the request of the government in 2015 after it was ousted by the rebels.

Yemeni pro-government forces advance towards Hodeidah, controlled by Houthi rebels, during a battle for control of the city. AFP
Yemeni pro-government forces advance towards Hodeidah, controlled by Houthi rebels, during a battle for control of the city. AFP

The port has been attacked numerous times, causing significant damage and disruption to operations, destroying infrastructure and delaying the delivery of much-needed aid and commercial goods, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Early last month, US and UK forces carried out joint air strikes on Hodeidah's airport and another attack was launched on the seaport of Salif to the north, in retaliation for the Houthis' targeting of shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

The rebels first threatened to attack Israeli ships in October. The following month, the group seized control of a Japanese-operated ship near Hodeidah, holding crew members hostage.

UN presence

The UN has had a significant presence in Hodeidah, primarily focused on monitoring and facilitating peace agreements and providing humanitarian assistance.

Established in December 2018 by the Security Council, the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) was created to support the wider Stockholm Agreement between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels.

Martin Griffiths speaks to the media in Hodeidah, when he was UN envoy to Yemen in 2018. Reuters
Martin Griffiths speaks to the media in Hodeidah, when he was UN envoy to Yemen in 2018. Reuters

Various UN agencies operate in Hodeidah to address the dire humanitarian needs exacerbated by the conflict.

Key agencies involved include the World Food Programme, Unicef, the World Health Organisation, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

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The bio

Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales

Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow

Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades

Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus

Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga

Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

Results

2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar

3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar

4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash

5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy

T20 SQUADS

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shinwari, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Waqas Maqsood, Faheem Ashraf.

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GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

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hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
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  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Cofe

Year started: 2018

Based: UAE

Employees: 80-100

Amount raised: $13m

Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group 

Company%20Profile
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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
OIL PLEDGE

At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.

Gulf Men's League final

Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Company%20profile
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The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80

Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km

Updated: July 21, 2024, 10:58 AM`