What happened: Yemen alleges Houthis plan Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab transit fees with alleged Iranian Revolutionary Guards support
Yemen’s internationally recognized government minister Moammar al-Eryani accused the Houthi rebels of working under alleged Iranian guidance to set up a system that would impose fees on ships transiting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Yemen-linked statements describe the Red Sea–Bab al-Mandab route as a crucial maritime corridor for moving large quantities of Saudi crude to international markets, with heightened sensitivity after energy exports were disrupted by conflict near the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen’s information minister called the proposed fee scheme a dangerous escalation, arguing it aims to convert a strategic waterway into a permanent revenue base for the militia’s military and terrorist activities. The minister attributed the assessment to intelligence described as “confirmed” and alleged support from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for technical and administrative setup.