UN Concerned Saudis Will Attack Vital Yemen Aid Port

Saudis argue Hodeidah is now a military target

The UN is expressing serious concern about the fate of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. It’s the sole port for humanitarian aid for millions across northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia is presenting it as a military target.

On Saturday, the Saudis claimed to have evidence that Hodeidah was being used for missile development. The video they showed was fake, actually showing Baghdad in 2003, not Hodeidah.

That should be embarrassing for the Saudis, but they’re sticking by the lie, and see the allegations as making Hodeidah a legitimate military target. If Hodeidah is taken out of commission, it could put millions on a direct path to starvation.

Early in the war the Saudis were destroying ports regularly to limit aid into the country. Since then they’ve been running a naval blockade, but may have decided to just make aid delivery impossible.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.