SANA’A, Aug. 1: Yemen’s Houthi movement has denied reports that it intends to impose tolls on ships transiting the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, insisting that all vessels can continue using the waterway free of charge.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Houthi-controlled Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said its transit coordination services are entirely voluntary and provided without any fees.
The authority also warned shipping companies not to make payments or share information with any unauthorized individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Yemeni government or the HOCC.
The clarification came after media reports earlier this week suggested the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering levying charges on vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Those reports cited regional sources claiming the proposal had been discussed during meetings between Houthi representatives and Iranian officials in Tehran.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serving as a critical route for global oil and commercial shipping between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Analysts had warned that any tolls imposed on the passage could significantly affect Saudi Arabia, which has increasingly relied on the route for oil exports amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Houthi statement, however, no transit fees will be charged, and shipping through the waterway will remain open and free.
