Aden (South24 Center)

Despite the announcement by the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, imposing a 72-hour comprehensive blockade on air, sea, and land ports in South Yemen starting Tuesday (December 30), air and maritime traffic at several key Southern hubs has continued without any reported interruptions.

Navigational and security sources stated that Aden International Airport continued its flight operations as usual, with no executive instructions issued on the ground to stop flights or suspend approved schedules. 

The sources added that major seaports, including the ports of Aden and Mukalla, continued to receive commercial vessels and conduct cargo unloading and loading operations normally.

Al-Alimi, who is in Riyadh, had announced a temporary ban on all ports as part of a package of measures described as being backed by Saudi Arabia.

This comes in the context of a political and security escalation against people of the South and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) following developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra. 

Al-Alimi’s declaration had initially raised concerns among local residents regarding the obstruction of movement and potential crises in supply chains and port deliveries.

On Tuesday (December 30), the Port of Mukalla in Hadramout came under a Saudi airstrike that caused damage to the port and adjacent buildings. Saudi Arabia stated that it had targeted UAE weaponry destined for the STC, a claim the United Arab Emirates rejected in an official statement.

Thousands of protesters in Al-Mahra, Shabwa, and Mukalla condemned the Saudi air raid.

The Yemen Arabian Sea Ports Federation announced today the resumption of normal operations at Mukalla Port. 

The federation explained that commercial ships in the waiting area, which hold prior permits from the Saudi-led Coalition, are permitted to enter the port and offload their cargo without any obstacles.