Houthis Deny Plans to Charge Ships for Red Sea Passage

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have denied plans to charge ships for passing through the Red Sea, amid escalating tensions in the region. In a statement issued by the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), which oversees vessel movement through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Houthis said passage through the waterway remains free.

The denial comes after a Reuters report cited regional sources saying the Houthis were considering imposing fees on ships transiting the strait. The idea was reportedly raised with Iranian officials during a Houthi visit to Tehran in July, with Iranian advisers helping set up an authority to regulate the fees.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a vital chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, used by ships carrying oil and other cargo between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The strait has been under threat from the Houthis' long campaign against Red Sea shipping, which began in 2023 after the start of Israel's war on Gaza.

The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Saudi Arabia announcing a 14-nation maritime coalition aimed at protecting freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.