A senior Houthi official stated Thursday morning that the Iran-backed group has no intention to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to a report by ynet. The statement comes amid ongoing tensions over maritime chokepoints in the region.
A senior Houthi official, speaking on Thursday morning, said the Iran-aligned group has no intention to levy tolls on vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to a report by ynet. The official was not named in the report.
The statement marks a rare public de-escalatory signal from the Houthis regarding the strategic waterway, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. In recent months, Iran and its proxies have asserted claims over maritime passage fees, including the Strait of Hormuz, as The Zioneer has reported. The Houthi denial of tolls on Bab el-Mandeb contrasts with those earlier threats, though the group has not ruled out other forms of disruption.
The report, attributed to ynet, did not provide further details on the context or timing of the official's remarks. The Houthis have previously threatened to block Red Sea shipping in solidarity with Palestinian factions, but have not carried out large-scale interdictions in recent weeks.
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