Ammon News - Yemen's Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied on Saturday that it ​planned to impose fees on commercial ships ‌transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait, saying no such decision had been taken and that passage through the strategic ​waterway remained free.

The statement follows a Reuters ​report on Wednesday, citing regional sources, that the ⁠Iran-aligned Houthis were considering imposing fees on ​ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, a ​week after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.

The sources in the Reuters report had said the proposal ​on fees was discussed with Iranian officials during ​a visit to Tehran by Houthi officials in July, although ‌no ⁠timeframe for implementation had been decided.

The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said its "safe transit service was a voluntary and cost-free service".

"The HOCC categorically ​confirms that ​any individual ⁠or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the ​Bab el-Mandeb strait does not represent ​the ⁠Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any capacity whatsoever," it said in a statement.

"The HOCC urges ⁠shipping companies ​not to make any ​payments or provide any information to unauthorized individuals or entities," it ​said.


Reuters