Yemen govt says Houthis plan transit fees in Bab el-Mandeb

Yemen's internationally recognized government has accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group of planning, with Tehran's direct support, to establish a system for charging transit fees to commercial vessels using the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. The allegations, made by Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, warn that the move poses a major threat to global shipping and energy markets.

Al-Eryani stated that recently obtained intelligence indicates experts and advisers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are directly involved in designing the technical and administrative framework for the project. He said the plan includes establishing a dedicated authority to collect payments from shipping companies, describing it as a dangerous escalation aimed at transforming a vital maritime corridor into a permanent source of funding for the Houthis' military activities.

The accusations follow a significant escalation in regional tensions. On July 20, the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and have since claimed attacks targeting Saudi oil tankers and energy infrastructure. This blockade threatens Saudi...