Yemen’s Houthis Deny Plans To Impose Fees On Ships Transiting Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Yemen’s Houthi-run maritime coordination body has denied reports that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, saying the strategic waterway remains free for transit.
The statement from the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) came after a Reuters report that the Iran-aligned group was considering introducing charges for ships sailing through the southern Red Sea.
The report had cited regional sources and came a week after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.
The HOCC said its “safe transit service” was voluntary and did not involve any payment from shipping…