Traders in Aden, Yemen, held a general strike to protest the collapse of the Yemeni riyal and rising prices of basic commodities. The strike involved closing shops and businesses, and protesters blocked streets. The Yemeni riyal's value has plummeted since the war began, with the exchange rate reaching 623 riyals to 1 U.S. dollar, up from 215 riyals pre-war. This devaluation has led to increased prices and economic hardship, with over 80 percent of Yemenis needing humanitarian aid and over 7 million facing famine. Activists call for Gulf countries to provide economic support. Yemen's civil war, now in its fourth year, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with a blockade restricting imports and exports and halting foreign cash flow.

Yemeni government forces, with UAE support, continued their offensive against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Hodeidah. Despite ongoing clashes and Saudi-led airstrikes, the Houthis resisted withdrawal, with talks between Houthi leaders and UN Envoy Martin Griffiths yielding no results. The UAE Minister Anwar Gargash expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, while a government source dismissed negotiations. Houthis prepared defenses and allegedly used civilians as human shields. The Yemeni government and Emirates Red Crescent provided aid to displaced families and opened safe routes for evacuation. The capture of Hodeidah's port, a vital Houthi resource, is seen as crucial for the Yemeni government to restore control and secure the Bab el-Mandab Strait.

The article reports on the Yemeni government forces' advances in the battle against the Iran-backed Shiite Houthis for control of the western port city of Hodeidah. Supported by the UAE and Saudi-led coalition's aerial bombardment, the government forces reached the outskirts of Hodeidah. Analysts suggest that retaking the city would cut off the rebels' financial and military support and could lead to their downfall. The port is of strategic importance as it is a lifeline for many Yemenis and a source of revenue for the Houthis. The United Nations has expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of the battle, as Hodeidah has high poverty and malnutrition rates. Yemeni officials claim that the Houthis use port revenues to fund the civil war, while the Yemeni government promises to restore normal life in Hodeidah post-liberation.