The Houthi-run HOCC said its safe-passage service through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is voluntary and free, and warned shipping companies against paying unauthorized parties.
Yemen’s Houthi-run maritime authority said commercial vessels can continue to pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait without paying, rejecting reports that the group was considering tolls on ships using the strategic Red Sea chokepoint. In a Saturday statement, the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, or HOCC, said its safe-passage service is voluntary and that transit through the strait is free of charge. The HOCC said any individual or entity seeking payment in exchange for passage does not represent Yemen or the center and urged shipping companies not to make payments or share information with unauthorized parties. The denial followed a Reuters report on Wednesday that said Iran-backed Houthis had discussed imposing fees on most commercial vessels transiting the strait during a July visit to Tehran, though no timeline had been set. The report said Chinese vessels would have been exempt under the proposal, increasing pressure on the U.S. and its regional allies. The statement came as traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb slowed after the group attacked Saudi Arabia and declared a maritime blockade against the kingdom. Only 11 cargo vessels passed through the strait on July 26, the lowest daily total in months, according to Kpler. The Bab al-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a vital route for oil and other cargo between Asia, Europe and the Middle East, making any disruption there significant for regional trade flows.