The Washington Post described the closure of the Port of Eilat as a strategic victory for the Yemeni army. Yemeni operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, launched in solidarity with Gaza after the Israeli aggression began in October 2023, have caused a 90% drop in port activity.

Port Executive Director Gideon Golber stated that the port has been losing about four million shekels monthly for 19 months due to the Yemeni attacks, which targeted both navigation and the port itself. The administration warned it can no longer sustain salaries or taxes without operational revenue.

The newspaper highlighted that the closure symbolizes a significant morale boost for the Houthis and signals the failure of Israeli and American deterrence efforts. It also noted that most global shipping companies have avoided the Red Sea route, increasing shipping costs and transit times.

The report mentioned over 145 attacks by the Houthis on commercial ships and the failure of U.S. and Western strikes to stop them. As a result, the port faces potential complete closure, with companies rerouting shipments via the Cape of Good Hope, raising costs and reducing import efficiency.

The Washington Post concluded that the port, once a major Israeli gateway, is now controlled by Yemeni forces in the Red Sea, and Washington and its allies have been unable to prevent its shutdown.