The Hodeidah deep sea port on the Red Sea is the base from which badly needed food, water and medicine is distributed to more than 8 million Yemenis, and all sides fear the fighting may result in the destruction of the port’s infrastructure. That would be a tragedy and a disaster for the war-stricken Yemeni people.

There was fierce fighting between the  Houthi-led government of yemen,  and mercenary forces loyal to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.  There has been fierce fighting near Hodeidah airport south of the city.  The mercenary forces attacking Hodeidah , are being supported by Saudi and UAE  airstrikes.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Yemeni Houthis  struck a Saudi-US warship near the port city of  Hodeidah in a retaliatory attack.

But according to aid groups in Hodeidah,  fighting had not  yet reached the main part of the city, although the sound of shelling was getting closer and people were staying indoors. 

According to aid and relief agencies, the port was still open for ships delivering aid. On Wednesday,  four vessels filled with food and fuel were at berth in the port, and five vessels at anchorage, down from seven vessels and 15 vessels respectively at the same time last month.

The port has not yet been declared a zone for military conflict, a step that would cause the port’s closure to commercial traffic.

Meanwhile, an emergency  UN security council meeting has been convened to discuss the Saudi / UAE offensive on Hodeidah.   

Russia and some EU countries are trying to persuade members of the security council to  agree to a statement condemning the attack on Hodeidah.

The Russian foreign ministry said an assault on the port would be a disaster for Yemen, and would halt the peace process designed to end the three-year conflict in Yemen.