- Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have claimed attacks on Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure, threatening the kingdom's ability to export millions of barrels of crude a day.
- Yemen's Houthi group is considering imposing fees on commercial ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, a week after declaring a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards are reportedly helping the Houthis manage the effort to impose fees on ships transiting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- Houthi officials have discussed the issue of imposing fees on Bab el-Mandeb transits with Iranian counterparts during a visit to Iran.
- Concerns are rising that the Houthis aim to monetize access to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, similar to Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Houthi attacks on merchant ships have previously led to significant disruptions in Red Sea traffic, which has not fully recovered since November 2023.
- During their maritime campaign in 2024, the Houthis were alleged to have collected fees from shipping agencies transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Yemen's Houthi rebels are reportedly considering the imposition of fees on commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea, a strategic maritime corridor, amid a recent blockade against Saudi Arabia.
This potential move, described by Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani as a "dangerous escalation", aims to transform the Bab al-Mandab Strait into a revenue source for the militia's military activities.
Al-Eryani stated that "confirmed intelligence" suggests Iranian Revolutionary Guards are assisting the Houthis in establishing a framework for this fee collection, which would involve creating a dedicated entity to manage payments from shipping companies.
The Houthis' actions have raised alarms in the Gulf, with fears they may replicate Iran's strategy in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially destabilizing global energy markets.
Following the blockade, the Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi tankers, threatening the kingdom's oil exports.
Regional sources indicate that the Houthis are also considering exempting Chinese ships from these fees, reflecting their strategic alliances.
Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen's foreign minister-designate, warned that the Houthis' attempts to control the Red Sea could face significant opposition from Gulf and European nations, although current international naval forces are stretched thin and unable to provide adequate protection.
The Houthis have a history of collecting fees for safe passage, with estimates reaching $180 million a month during their maritime campaign in 2024, according to a U.N. report, although these figures remain unverified.7
“Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani described the potential fee system as a dangerous escalation, aiming to fund militia activities. Intelligence suggests that Iranian Revolutionary Guards are directly involved in establishing a framework for collecting these fees, raising concerns over regional maritime security.”
