21:53 - 29.07.2026

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July 29, Fineko/abc.az. Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) is evaluating options to levy transit fees on commercial shipping navigating the southern Red Sea corridor.

According to Reuters, specific timelines for implementing the proposed transit framework have not yet been established. The group is currently working on administrative mechanisms to regulate maritime traffic through this vital strategic waterway.

Maritime tensions escalated following a Houthi-declared naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in retaliation for strikes targeting Sanaa airport. The subsequent closure of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-flagged and Saudi-linked vessels led to a 56% decline in commercial traffic across the corridor.