Key facts
- Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani announced that Iran's IRGC advisers are involved in designing a Houthi-enforced toll system for the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
- The Houthi group plans to charge ships to transit the Bab el-Mandeb, a move that mirrors Iran's claims regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
- The minister stated that this escalation aims to create a permanent funding source for the militia's military and terrorist activities.
- Intelligence suggests IRGC experts are directly involved in establishing a dedicated entity for collecting payments from shipping companies.
- The Bab el-Mandeb is a critical route for crude oil delivery, especially after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani announced on Wednesday that intelligence confirms Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) advisers are directly involved in designing a Houthi-enforced toll system for the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea. This plan mirrors Iran's contested claims to charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Al-Eryani stated that the move represents a "dangerous escalation aimed at transforming one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors into a permanent source of funding for the militia's military and terrorist activities." He added that "IRGC experts and advisers are directly involved in designing the technical and administrative framework of the project," including the establishment of a dedicated entity for collecting payments from shipping companies.
The Bab el-Mandeb, a crucial waterway for crude oil delivery, has become increasingly vital after attacks and threats in the Strait of Hormuz impacted Gulf energy exports. Anxieties are growing that the Houthis' plan to monetize access to the Bab el-Mandeb could further disrupt world energy markets.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have previously engaged in attacks on Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, leading to a significant drop in cargo volumes. Last week, they announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and claimed attacks targeting Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure.
The Houthis are part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance," a network of militant groups in the region. While they do not control the coastline along the Bab el-Mandeb, they hold territory nearby. In response to the blockade, Riyadh has retaliated with strikes targeting Houthi positions. On Wednesday, the US and Saudi Arabia conducted strikes on members of a paramilitary alliance in Iraq that includes pro-Iran groups, resulting in at least 20 fatalities, according to the Iraqi alliance.