Houthis deny plans to charge vessels for Red Sea transit
- Houthis reject reports of plans to levy transit fees on commercial vessels using the Bab el Mandeb Strait, insisting safe-transit assurances remain voluntary and free of charge
- Security analysts said the denial removes a potential sanctions and compliance headache for shipowners but does not alter the threat environment in the Red Sea
- Fresh maritime incidents off Oman, including a tanker struck by an unknown projectile, underscore continuing risks to shipping across key Middle East trade routes
Yemen’s Houthi authorities have denied reports they plan to charge vessels for transiting the Bab el Mandeb Strait, removing an immediate compliance concern for shipowners but leaving unchanged the security risks facing Red Sea shipping as regional tensions escalate.
