Local sources reported that the Houthi group closed, on Monday, a soft drinks factory and dispersed a protest by its employees with gunfire in the city of Hodeidah, western Yemen.

The sources added that the group’s gunmen closed the “Delsey” soft drinks factory, located in the Al-Marawa’a district on the eastern outskirts of the coastal city.

She explained that Houthi crews surrounded the factory, owned by Dirham Industries Limited, and prevented dozens of employees from entering it.

The sources suggested that the closure came as a result of the factory management’s refusal to pay illegal financial royalties imposed by leaders in the group.

She indicated that the employees organized a protest on the Sanaa - Hodeidah road, protesting against being prevented from entering the factory, but the Houthis dispersed the protest using gunfire.