Houthis weigh fees on commercial ships crossing Bab al-Mandeb

Yemen’s Houthis are considering charging commercial vessels to pass through Bab al-Mandeb, regional officials familiar with the discussions told the Reuters news agency. The proposal emerged a week after the group announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on 20 July, extending the regional war beyond the Gulf and placing another crucial energy and trade route under pressure. The narrow Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Gulf of Aden with the southern Red Sea, providing access to the Suez Canal and Mediterranean. Sources said the Houthis could impose fees on most commercial traffic using the waterway, although the group has not set a timetable. Its media office did not answer Reuters’ request for comment. Two regional officials briefed by Tehran said Iranian representatives discussed the proposal with Houthi officials who visited Iran in July for the funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.