Yemen rebels plan to charge tolls for ships transiting Red Sea
The Houthi armed group, in coordination with Iran, plans to impose fees on vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea, mirroring Iran's strategy at the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen's internationally recognized government reported on Wednesday that the Houthi armed group, with Iranian assistance, is developing a scheme to charge ships navigating the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani described this as "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." The narrow waterway, whose Arabic name means "Gate of Tears," has become a critical route for crude oil deliveries after Iranian attacks and threats disrupted Gulf energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
Eryani stated that the assessment is based on recently obtained "confirmed intelligence" indicating that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is directly involved in overseeing the effort. "The intelligence indicates that IRGC experts and advisers are directly involved in designing the technical and administrative framework of the project," he added, confirming earlier media reports. The plan includes establishing a dedicated entity to collect payments from shipping companies and commercial vessels.
This move threatens to further destabilize global energy markets, already strained by ongoing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists on its right to levy tolls on ships using that waterway, which previously carried one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas. The Houthis are widely seen as attempting to replicate Iran's model at the Bab el-Mandeb.
Last week, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and subsequently claimed attacks on Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure. Although the group does not control the Yemeni coastline along the Bab el-Mandeb, it holds territory less than 100 kilometers away. The blockade endangers Saudi Arabia's ability to export millions of barrels of crude daily, prompting Riyadh to retaliate with strikes on Houthi positions.
On Wednesday, the United States and Saudi Arabia conducted strikes against a pro-Iran paramilitary alliance in Iraq, killing at least 20 people, according to the alliance. The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance," a network of militant groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and Iraqi militias. They seized power in late 2014, capturing Sana'a and key government sites, forcing the Yemeni government into exile.
