Right, so Saudi Arabia has spent years backing the government-aligned side in Yemen. Part of the promise was that its side could rebuild things, run things and offer people something other than permanent war, that of course the Saudi’s themselves in no small part have caused. Mocha port was supposed to be part of that. And then along came the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia channels much of this rebuilding work through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, which was established in 2018. It collaborates with the recognised Yemeni government and local authorities to fund roads, ports, power stations, hospitals, schools and water projects, while also aiming to strengthen government institutions. The political idea is fairly clear: make the Yemen controlled by Riyadh's allies appear stable, governable and economically productive. Ma ...