Overview
- The Houthi‑run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center issued a statement on Saturday denying any decision to impose transit fees and saying passage through the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait remains free.
- The HOCC said its so‑called safe transit service is voluntary and cost‑free and it warned shipping companies not to pay or give information to unauthorized individuals who claim to represent the group.
- A Reuters report, citing regional sources, said Houthi officials discussed a proposal to charge fees with Iranian counterparts during a July visit to Tehran but that claim has not been independently verified.
- Saudi Arabia this week announced a 14‑nation maritime coalition to protect navigation through the Bab al‑Mandeb, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in response to renewed threats to commercial shipping.
- Market measures and prediction markets showed a fall in short‑term odds of a strait closure after the HOCC denial, though a 2024 UN expert report that alleged past informal fee taking keeps long‑term security and commercial risks present.