Key facts
- Yemen's Houthi group denied reports of plans to impose tolls on ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
- The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) stated that passage through the strait remains free.
- The HOCC clarified that its Safe Transit Service is voluntary and provided at no cost.
- The HOCC urged shipping companies not to make payments to unauthorized individuals or entities.
- Regional sources had previously claimed the Houthis were considering imposing fees on commercial ships.
Yemen's Houthi group denied reports of plans to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, stating that passage through the strategic waterway remains free. The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) issued a statement on Saturday to clarify that no such decision had been taken and that its Safe Transit Service is voluntary and cost-free.
The HOCC urged shipping companies not to make any payments or provide any information to unauthorized individuals or entities. This statement follows a Reuters report citing regional sources that the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering imposing fees on ships transiting the southern Red Sea, a week after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.