Houthi-controlled ports reportedly out of service since Israeli strikes on December 18

Three ports on Yemen’s west coast under Houthi control have been out of service since Israeli strikes against them on December 18, according to sources quoted by Al Arabiya.

Ships anchored in the ports of Hodeida, Salif, and Ras Issa have been unable to leave, the Saudi news outlet reports, cutting off an essential lifeline for the regime.

The harbors were again targeted in IDF strikes last week, as part of Israel’s campaign to destroy infrastructure used by Houthis for military activities. The ports of Ras Issa and Hodeida also include fuel storage facilities, making them vital economic hubs for the terror group.

A strike on the Hodeida port in July reportedly cost the Houthis over $300 million in material losses and lost port revenue, as the Iran-backed rebel group struggles to find resources, given Yemen’s dismal economic crisis and international isolation.