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

Yemen's Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied Saturday that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

The body said no such decision had been taken and that passage through the strategic Red Sea waterway remained free.

Did the Houthis decide to charge fees for Red Sea passage?

The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said its safe transit service was a voluntary and cost-free service, denying any fee had been agreed. It said any individual or entity requesting payment to transit Bab el-Mandeb does not represent Yemen or the HOCC in any capacity.

The statement follows a Reuters report on Wednesday, citing regional sources, that the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering fees on ships sailing through the southern Red Sea.

That report came a week after the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, and sources said the fee proposal was discussed with Iranian officials during a July visit to Tehran by Houthi officials, though no timeframe for implementation had been set.

The HOCC urged shipping companies not to make any payments or provide information to unauthorized individuals or entities claiming to represent the group.