Yemeni sailors protest Houthi attacks on Mocha port and Red Sea navigation

Dozens of Yemeni sailors staged a protest in the city of Mocha on Monday, condemning recent Houthi militia attacks on the port and their threat to maritime navigation in the Red Sea.

The demonstrators called for urgent international intervention to halt Iranian-backed Houthi threats and to ensure effective protection for vital waterways, safeguarding the lives of sailors, fishermen, and port workers.

Participants emphasized the necessity of implementing practical measures to secure international shipping lanes and prevent the targeting of civilian facilities and infrastructure, which are crucial for the livelihoods of thousands of Yemenis.

The port of Mocha has been subjected to repeated attacks by Houthi militias using ballistic missiles and drones in recent days. These assaults have resulted in casualties, injuries, and extensive damage to the port's infrastructure and operational equipment.

According to the Director-General of the Port of Mocha, Abdulmalik Al-Sharabi, the direct losses incurred by the port due to the Houthi attacks are estimated at approximately $16 million. He confirmed a complete cessation of commercial and maritime activities at the port.

Al-Sharabi further detailed that the shelling killed four port security personnel and three port employees. He noted that the militia launched over 25 missiles targeting the facility, causing significant damage to its infrastructure and facilities. Six wooden vessels and a dredger involved in the port's expansion project were also damaged, along with severe harm to the port's quay, vital installations, and equipment.

Al-Sharabi warned of the severe economic and humanitarian consequences of the ongoing port closure, highlighting that approximately 1,300 dockworkers have lost their jobs and sources of income due to the halt in maritime traffic.

The protest occurs amidst a continuous escalation by the Houthis against the city of Mocha and its port, raising concerns about the widening repercussions of these attacks on maritime traffic and trade in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.