US website: It's time to close Hodeidah port and end Houthi control over aid

The American website, Middle East Forum Observer , called on the United States and the United Nations to immediately close the port of Hodeidah to prevent the Houthis from controlling weapons and aid, stressing that the time has come to end the Houthis' control over humanitarian aid.

The website published an article by Michael Rubin, translated by Yemen Youth Net, in which he argued that amid the political repercussions of the "Signal app scandal," the reality that the Houthis in Yemen still pose a threat to international navigation, the United States, and countries in the region has been lost.

Although the author supports President Donald Trump's military actions against Houthi leaders and their military infrastructure as "justified," he argues that targeting military supplies is merely a process of depletion unless the US military simultaneously dries up the Houthis' supply sources.

This requires, according to the article, blocking three outlets: closing Sana'a International Airport, closing the port of Hodeidah, and halting the flow of weapons from the Sultanate of Oman.

However, the author points out that the problem is not limited to weapons; the Houthis also profit from the looting of humanitarian aid. This is why Hodeidah is so important.

According to the author, "By controlling the main crossing for humanitarian aid, the Houthis can plunder aid to sell it, distribute it to their supporters, and use it as a weapon to deprive areas they deem politically disloyal."

He continued: "When the UAE and other anti-Houthi forces planned to seize Hodeidah in 2018 to end this dynamic, the Houthis activated their propaganda network among Western progressive and human rights organizations to argue that any disruption to port operations, even for a week, would be beyond the capacity of the Yemeni people."

He pointed out that "at the same time, Iranian special forces targeted cargo ships and oil tankers off the UAE coast in the Gulf of Oman to send a message to Abu Dhabi that it will pay a heavy price for confronting the Houthis."

"The subsequent Stockholm Agreement was a cover, supposedly aimed at establishing an inspection regime, stopping arms smuggling, and preventing Houthi control of humanitarian aid—but it only normalized the status quo," he said.

He stressed that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio should use their influence with the United Nations to demand that all humanitarian aid to Yemen now pass through ports such as Aden and Mukalla, which are under the control of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

The author considered the Houthis' or others' complaints that supplies sent via Aden would not reach Sanaa or other cities under their control "mere speculation," as the Houthis are obstructing the delivery of aid to areas outside their control.

According to the article, if the Houthis want more supplies, they must allow international organizations free access to transport them through control lines. Trusting the Houthis to deliver food, medicine, or other goods only strengthens the Houthis as they abuse the Yemenis under their control.

He stressed that this shift also requires the United Nations to abandon its willingness to act as a hostage to the Houthis. The United Nations should relocate all its offices and staff based in Yemen to Aden or other areas under the control of the internationally recognized government.

He pointed out that the Houthis' continued detention of UN staff, both foreign and local, makes this decision a no-brainer, saying, "For UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the decision should be easy: He must give the staff two weeks to relocate, or they will lose any status or protection they enjoy with the UN."

The author concluded by saying, "For four years, the Biden administration ignored the Houthi threat, or simply wished it would go away. Although Trump imposed sanctions on the Houthis during his first term, his lack of focus allowed the United Nations to prioritize symbolism over effectiveness and acquiesce to the Houthis."