Houthis Deny Bab el-Mandeb Toll Claims, Yemen Accuses Them of Imitating Iran

Houthis Deny Bab el-Mandeb Toll Claims as Yemen Accuses Them of Imitating Iran

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen denied allegations that they charge fees from ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Yemeni government, meanwhile, accused the group of imitating Iran's policy in the Strait of Hormuz.

Scraper SystemAugust 02, 2026, 11:10 AM

Houthis Deny Bab el-Mandeb Toll Claims as Yemen Accuses Them of Imitating Iran

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen denied accusations that they demand fees from commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The group's Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) stated that passage is completely free of charge.

In a statement carried by the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency, the HOCC said, "The HOCC once again emphasizes that passage through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is free of charge." This denial came days after Yemeni Information Minister Muammer al-Eryani's remarks.

Minister al-Eryani had accused the Houthis of attempting to charge fees in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, and of imitating Iran's efforts to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. These accusations revealed a new dimension of tension in the region.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, providing access to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Its strategic importance has grown further after Iran's policies in the Strait of Hormuz, and it serves as a critical alternative route for Saudi Arabia's oil exports.

Last month, the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter. Following the blockade, the group claimed responsibility for several attacks on oil tankers and energy infrastructure in the region.

The denial of the toll claims came immediately after another Houthi rejection. The group also denied allegations that it was behind a drone attack on the US-owned vessel Energos Winter at Egypt's Damietta port, describing the reports as "baseless."

The drone strike hit the Energos Winter, which was anchored next to a Greek-owned tanker, causing fires on both vessels. The incident occurred at a time when tensions between the US and Iran have spilled over into maritime shipping lanes in the Middle East.

Houthis Deny Bab el-Mandeb Toll Claims as Yemen Accuses Them of Imitating Iran