Eilat port chief says traffic down 85% since Houthis put squeeze on strait
The 'Klos-C' at the port of Eilat on Saturday. (photo credit: Flash90)
The head of Eilat’s port tells Reuters that business at the docks is down some 85 percent since Yemen’s Houthi rebels began attacking Red Sea marine traffic.
The port is Israel’s only cargo terminal on the Red Sea, and generally only handles ships importing new vehicles and exporting potash.
On Tuesday, the Financial Times reported that marine traffic in the Red Sea was down 30% month over month in December due to carriers avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key chokepoint the Houthis have attempted to close off by attacking vessels there.
