Recently, some Western media reported that the Houthi forces in Yemen planned to impose a toll on vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden. However, the Houthi forces quickly denied these claims. According to a report by an Yemeni news agency on August 1, the Houthi Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center based in Sanaa issued a statement saying that passage through the Gulf of Aden is completely free of charge, and no consideration of imposing a toll has ever been considered.
The statement read: "The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center has recently noticed that some media have reported and published information claiming that Yemen intends to charge fees for ships passing through the Strait of Mandeb. The Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center strongly denies these claims, emphasizing that Yemen has never made or considered any decision to impose tolls for ships passing through the Strait of Mandeb. Ships passing through the Strait of Mandeb are free of charge."
Maldive IC Photo
The statement indicates that the center provides free security passage services for ships, and all ships outside the prohibited areas can pass through safely. The center clearly states that any individual or entity that charges fees for passage in the Gulf of Aden cannot represent the Houthi movement of Yemen, nor does such entity have the necessary qualifications. The center also calls on shipping companies to refrain from charging fees to any unauthorized individuals or entities.
On July 20, the Yemeni Houthi armed forces announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. They also warned international shipping companies that ships engaging in trade with Saudi ports might face military strikes. A Houthi spokesman issued a statement on July 24, stating that the Strait of Mandeb was not closed, and the recently announced maritime measures were only targeted at shipping related to Saudi Arabia.
