Houthis consider imposing fees for Red Sea passage: Report

Houthis consider imposing fees for Red Sea passage: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/30/2026 - 17:24 The group imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia as of 20 July A commercial vessel passes through an international shipping lane off Yemen's Hanish Island in the Red Sea, on 27 July 2026 (Khaled Ziad/AFP) Off Yemen's Houthis could be looking to impose fees on maritime traffic coming through the Bab el-Mandeb gateway, the Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday, citing regional sources. Saudi Arabia has utilised Bab el-Mandeb as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked for US-allied vessels since March, following the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February. And last week, the Houthis attacked a Saudi tanker off the southern Saudi port of Jizan.