SANAA: Yemen’s Minister of Information Moammar Al-Eryani has revealed that Houthi rebels are trying to establish a taxation system targeting commercial ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to the minister, the Houthi group aims to control international maritime routes to generate illegal funding. He stated that this move is a clear violation of both international maritime law and Yemen’s sovereignty.”
The Houthis want to turn Bab al-Mandab into a source of revenue. They are attempting to create a new method of extortion by threatening vessels and collecting fees from them, which will directly impact global trade,” the minister said.
Bab al-Mandab is one of the world’s busiest sea lanes. Millions of barrels of oil and billions of dollars worth of commercial goods pass through it daily.
Since last year, the Houthis have carried out several attacks on commercial vessels in the area, prompting the US and allied nations to increase naval patrols in the Red Sea.
Analysts warn that if the Houthis succeed in enforcing a “tax system,” global shipping costs could rise further, adding pressure to already strained supply chains.
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