Yemen's Houthis Deny Plans to Impose Fees On Ships Sailing Through Red Sea
The group said its voluntary safe-transit service remains free and warned shipping companies not to pay unauthorized parties.
- On Saturday, the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center denied reports it planned to impose fees on commercial vessels transiting the Mandeb Strait, stating passage remains free.
- This denial follows a Wednesday Reuters report citing regional sources that Iran-aligned Houthis were considering imposing fees after discussing the proposal with Iranian officials during a visit to Tehran.
- The HOCC stated its "safe transit service was a voluntary and cost-free service," while urging shipping companies to avoid providing information or payments to unauthorized individuals or entities.
- In response to the threat, Saudi Arabia announced a maritime coalition this week to protect navigation through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Mandeb Strait.
- Yemen's foreign minister-designate, Afrah Zouba, warned on Tuesday that the Houthis seek to "copy the Iranian model," potentially mirroring fees imposed by Iran on ships transiting the Hormuz Strait.
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The Houthis in Yemen on Saturday denied reports that they intend to impose fees on commercial ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, stressing that no such decision has been made and that passage through this strategic waterway remains free.
'Safe transit service': Yemen's Houthis have no plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi-run maritime body denied plans to impose fees on ships. Passage through the Bab el-Mandeb strait remains free, they stated. This follows a report citing regional sources about potential fees. The Houthi center confirmed its safe transit service is voluntary and cost-free. Shipping companies are urged not to pay unauthorized individuals or entities.
Yemen's Houthis deny plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red Sea
Yemen's Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied on Saturday that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, saying no such decision had been taken and that passage through the strategic waterway remained free.
August 1, 2026. Foreign news agencies reported that Yemen's Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, established by the Houthi group in Sanaa, issued a statement denying reports that the Houthis planned to charge fees for shipping through the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important trade point connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthi statement indicated that the safety services provided by the group for shipping were f…
The Houthi-controlled maritime coordination body in Yemen stated that there are no plans to impose fees on commercial vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, that no such decision has been made, and that passage through the strategic waterway remains free.
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