- Saudi Arabia is seeking to build an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, people familiar with the deliberations have told the Reuters news agency.
- On July 20, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, accusing its leaders of imposing “an unjust and oppressive siege” on Yemen for nearly 12 years.
- Since the blockade announcement, the Houthis have launched attacks on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.
- Saudi Arabia responded with air strikes on what it said were Houthi military facilities at Yemen’s Hodeidah port used to threaten commercial shipping.
- In Yemen, a minister of the internationally recognised government accused Houthi rebels of working under Iranian guidance to establish a system to impose fees for ships transiting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- Yemen's information minister said intelligence confirmed IRGC advisers were directly involved in designing a Houthi-enforced toll system for the Bab el-Mandeb, mirroring Iran's contested claim to charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The move was "a dangerous escalation aimed at transforming one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors into a permanent source of funding for the militia's military and terrorist activities," Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said.
- "The intelligence indicates that IRGC experts and advisers are directly involved in designing the technical and administrative framework of the project," Eryani added, confirming earlier reports by international media on Wednesday on Houthis' plans.
- Anxieties are growing across the Gulf that the Houthis are hoping to copy Iran's playbook in Hormuz by monetising access to the Bab al-Mandeb at the mouth of the Red Sea — a move likely to send world energy markets into further disarray.
- Houthi attacks on Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden caused cargo volumes to plunge during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with ships forced into a lengthy detour around southern Africa.
Saudi Arabia is actively seeking an international coalition to counter Houthi threats in the Red Sea, particularly following the group's declaration of a maritime blockade on July 20. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of a prolonged siege on Yemen, claiming it has plundered their resources.124
In response to the blockade, Houthi attacks on Saudi vessels have intensified, prompting Saudi airstrikes targeting Houthi military facilities in Hodeidah. Yemen's information minister has accused the Houthis of collaborating with Iranian forces to establish a toll system for ships transiting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, mirroring Iran's controversial claims in the Strait of Hormuz.3
The minister described this move as a dangerous escalation that could turn a vital maritime corridor into a funding source for Houthi military activities. He stated, “The intelligence indicates that IRGC experts and advisers are directly involved in designing the technical and administrative framework of the project,” confirming earlier reports on the Houthis' plans.78
Concerns are mounting that the Houthis aim to replicate Iran's strategy in Hormuz, potentially destabilizing global energy markets. The situation has already led to a decline in cargo volumes due to Houthi attacks on vessels linked to Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, forcing ships to reroute around southern Africa.
“The Houthis are reportedly planning to impose fees on ships transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, mirroring Iran's toll system in the Strait of Hormuz. Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani warned that this move could escalate tensions and disrupt global energy markets.”
Euronews.com
