Houthi maritime authority denies plans to charge tolls for Bab el-Mandeb passage

Yemen’s Houthi‑run maritime authority denied on Saturday that it is planning to impose tolls on commercial vessels transiting the Bab el‑Mandeb strait, the narrow chokepoint that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The authority stated that ships may continue to pass through the waterway without payment and that the group’s safe‑passage service remains voluntary, according to a statement released by the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center.

The claim that the Houthis would charge fees emerged after reports surfaced that the group’s maritime wing had been discussing new revenue‑generating measures amid ongoing economic sanctions and the broader conflict in Yemen. The strait is a critical artery for international shipping, carrying a significant portion of global oil and commodity traffic, and any change in its toll regime could affect maritime logistics and regional security. The Houthi statement sought to reassure shipping companies that no additional costs would be imposed and that the authority’s primary focus remains on facilitating safe passage for vessels.