Yemen Monitor/Hodeidah/Exclusive:
Sources have stated that Hodeidah Port will not be able to import oil derivatives and gas in the near future following Israeli airstrikes that targeted the two docks and oil storage tanks.
The sources spoke to “Yemen Monitor” on condition of anonymity for fear of Houthi retaliation.
The Houthis announced on Monday that the port had resumed operations. However, the sources confirmed that work has resumed on cargo docks that were not targeted by the Israeli airstrikes.
According to the sources, the bridge cranes for docks 6 and 7 were completely destroyed and it will take several weeks, if not months, to recover the debris and install new cranes that will need to be imported from abroad “if the Houthis agree to pay for them and international companies agree to sell the cranes.”
The United Nations had replaced cranes in 2020 that the Houthis said had been bombed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition in 2017.
One of the sources who works at Hodeidah Port added that “the Zionist aggression targeted all the fuel tanks in the port, and also attacked the other fuel tanks of the oil company and Ras Kathib station, which could have been used as an alternative.”
The two sources agreed that Hodeidah Port will need more than 6 months to return to normal operation “if there are no obstacles to buying cranes and resuming work on the docks and tanks.”
On Monday, the victims of the Israeli attacks were buried in Hodeidah City amidst widespread local and Arab condemnation.
At least 9 Yemenis were killed and dozens more were injured in an Israeli occupation airstrike on the western city of Hodeidah on Saturday. In the first acknowledged occupation strike on Yemeni soil since October 7.
