Yemen orders closure of ports operating outside government law amid efforts to cut Houthi arms supplies

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi on Wednesday ordered the closure of any port or border crossing operating outside government law as part of measures to combat smuggling and disrupt arms and financing networks supporting the Houthis, according to Yemen’s official Saba news agency, Anadolu reports.

Al-Alimi issued the order while chairing a meeting of the Supreme Committee for Combating Smuggling, headed by Prime Minister Shaia al-Zindani, in the Saudi capital. “The era of leniency toward smuggling is over,” said al-Alimi, vowing to protect legitimate trade and the private sector, and take action against smuggling networks that drain state resources, finance adversaries or threaten national security.

He said the measures form part of broader efforts to secure sovereign ports […]