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Houthis deny reports of charging fees for Bab al-Mandab strait passage
🇸🇰 Slovakia /Conflict & Security

Houthis deny reports of charging fees for Bab al-Mandab strait passage

From SME · () Slovak

Translated from Slovak, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Houthi rebels in Yemen deny reports that they plan to charge fees for passage through the Bab al-Mandab strait.
  • The rebels' Maritime Coordination Center stated that no such decision has been made and the waterway remains free of charge.
  • This statement comes after Reuters reported, citing Yemeni sources, that Iran-backed rebels were considering imposing fees on Red Sea vessels.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have denied any plans to implement fees for commercial ships transiting the Bab al-Mandab strait, asserting that the vital waterway remains open and free of charge.

The Maritime Coordination Center, operated by the rebels, issued a statement on Saturday explicitly refuting the reports. "No such decision has been made, and the waterway remains free of charge," the center declared, directly addressing claims that have circulated internationally.

No such decision has been made, and the waterway remains free of charge.

— Maritime Coordination CenterDenying reports that Houthi rebels plan to charge fees for passage through the Bab al-Mandab strait.

These denials follow a Reuters report from Wednesday, which cited Yemeni sources indicating that the Iran-backed rebels were considering introducing charges for vessels in the Red Sea. The report suggested that the rebels had discussed the proposal with Iran during a visit to Tehran in July, although no specific timeline for implementation was established.

HOCC confirms that anyone or any entity demanding payment in exchange for passage through the Bab al-Mandab strait in no way represents the Republic of Yemen or the HOCC.

— Maritime Coordination CenterClarifying that unauthorized entities are demanding payments and do not represent the Houthi-controlled center.

The Houthi's Maritime Coordination Center also clarified that the use of its "safe navigation services" is voluntary and free. They emphasized that any individual or entity demanding payment for passage through the Bab al-Mandab strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or the center itself. The center urged shipping companies to refrain from providing funds or information to unauthorized parties.

Previously, the Houthis had declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The Bab al-Mandab strait is a critical chokepoint for global shipping, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

HOCC urgently calls on shipping companies not to provide funds or information to unauthorized persons or entities.

— Maritime Coordination CenterAdvising shipping companies to avoid dealing with unauthorized individuals or groups regarding passage fees.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by SME in Slovak. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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