Yemen's Houthis deny plans to impose fees on ships sailing through Red Sea

Jerusalem Post/Middle East"The HOCC urges shipping companies not to make any payments or provide any information to unauthorized individuals or entities," the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said.Follow us on GoogleA satellite imagery shows Bab el Mandeb Strait, a key shipping waterway and the gateway to the Red Sea, as Iran threatens using Yemen's Houthi allies to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea, in this handout picture dated July 12, 2026.(photo credit: NASA Worldview/Handout via REUTERS)ByREUTERSAUGUST 1, 2026 04:40Yemen'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.The statement follows a Reuters report on Wednesday, citing regional sources, that the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering imposing fees on ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, a week after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.The sources in the Reuters report had said the proposal on fees was discussed with Iranian officials during a visit to Tehran by Houthi officials in July, although no timeframe for implementation had been decided.The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said its "safe transit service was a voluntary and cost-free service."Boats float near the coast of Bab el-Mandeb, Yemen, April 2, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/FILE PHOTO)HOCC: Do not pay, provide information to unauthorized individuals, entities"The HOCC categorically confirms that any individual or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any capacity whatsoever," it said in a statement."The HOCC urges shipping companies not to make any payments or provide any information to unauthorized individuals or entities," it said.Follow us on Google