Saudi Arabia’s Yemen War Just Lost A Port It DESPERATELY Needed

Right, so Saudi Arabia has spent years backing the government-aligned side in Yemen. Part of the promise was that its side could rebuild things, run things and offer people something other than permanent war, that of course the Saudi’s themselves in no small part have caused. Mocha port was supposed to be part of that. And then along came the Houthis.Saudi Arabia channels much of this rebuilding work through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, which was established in 2018. It collaborates with the recognised Yemeni government and local authorities to fund roads, ports, power stations, hospitals, schools and water projects, while also aiming to strengthen government institutions. The political idea is fairly clear: make the Yemen controlled by Riyadh's allies appear stable, governable and economically productive. Make them the good guys because they are Saudi aligned. Mocha was supposed to be part of that demonstration.Except now, the evidence is, quite literally, now burning.Mocha port. Smoke rising. Boats damaged. Expansion machinery hit.The port director reports that commercial and maritime operations have been suspended after repeated Houthi attacks. Seven people killed, he says. Around sixteen million dollars in losses. Some 1,300 workers are now without their income.It was meant to be expanding, not auditioning for the lead in Yemen's version of the Towering Inferno.Instead, it is now not even operational.Back to square one, then.