News - Yemen: The Hebrew newspaper Globes confirmed that the port of Umm al-Rashrash, known in Israeli terms as “Eilat,” will be completely shut down starting Sunday, following the freezing of its bank accounts and the failure of settlement negotiations due to bankruptcy and the suspension of operations. This comes as a result of Yemeni military operations in the Red Sea in support of Gaza.

The Israeli economic daily reported that the Yemeni-imposed blockade on the Zionist entity has paralyzed the Eilat port, which will shut down completely on Sunday, adding that Israel’s navy is losing one of its most vital logistical facilities in the Red Sea due to Yemeni deterrence.

Earlier, the Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist stated that the Eilat port, located in Israel’s far south, was at risk of full closure within the week, describing the development as “a clear victory for the Yemenis and a defeat for the Israeli economy as a whole.

The newspaper noted that the port has effectively been out of service since November 2023 due to security concerns over Red Sea navigation, particularly near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is under the control of the Yemeni Armed Forces.

It also highlighted that the operating company—owned by the Nakash brothers—has suffered an 80 percent drop in revenues in 2024 compared to 2023, leading to a severe financial crisis that threatens to shut down the port permanently.

Since November 2023, Yemen has declared that its military operations in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea aim to support the Palestinian people in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression. These operations primarily target Israeli-linked vessels or ships bound for occupied ports, as part of an “economic blockade” to pressure Israel to end its siege and attacks on Gaza. 

Western powers and their allies have attempted to maintain control over these waters through joint naval missions, framing their efforts under the banner of protecting “freedom of navigation.” However, they faild to counter Yemeni Armed Forces’ attacks—stretching from the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Gulf of Aden.