Yemen’s Houthi movement is considering charging commercial vessels fees to pass through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, according to regional officials speaking to Reuters. The discussions come about a week after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on 20 July, which officials say extends the regional conflict beyond the Gulf and adds pressure to another major energy and trade route.
Bab al-Mandeb is the narrow waterway linking the Gulf of Aden with the southern Red Sea and provides access to the Suez Canal and connections toward the Mediterranean. The sources say the Houthis could impose fees on most commercial traffic using the strait, though they have not set a timetable. Reuters reports that the Houthis’ media office did not respond to a request for comment.
Reuters also says regional officials briefed by Tehran indicate Iranian representatives discussed the proposal with Houthi officials during visits to Iran in July tied to the funeral of late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
