Houthis to copy Iran's Hormuz playbook with Red Sea toll plan
The Houthi armed group is reportedly preparing to impose a transit toll system for ships navigating the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea. Intelligence reports suggest that advisors from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are assisting in the design of this administrative and financial framework. This project aims to mirror the strategy currently used by Iran to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani characterized this move as a significant escalation. Officials warn that the plan intends to create a permanent funding source for the group's military activities. By establishing a dedicated entity to collect payments from commercial vessels, the movement seeks to exert further control over a critical global maritime artery.
The Bab el-Mandeb remains a vital route for crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Fears are rising that monetizing access to this waterway will trigger further disruption in international energy markets. Shipping volumes already experienced significant declines following earlier Houthi attacks on vessels in the region, which forced many operators to redirect cargo around southern Africa.
This development occurs against a tense regional backdrop. The Houthis continue to declare a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, with recent claims of attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. As international stakeholders monitor the situation, the potential for an expanded conflict involving Iran-aligned groups remains a primary concern for global maritime security.