Reuters: Houthis are weighing transit fees on ships passing through Bab el-Mandeb

Reuters, citing informed regional sources, reported that Yemen's Ansar Allah group is examining a mechanism to impose fees on most commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and a main route for oil and goods between Asia and Europe. The sources said consultations are continuing and no timetable or collection mechanism has been set. The group's media office did not respond to requests for comment. The report was republished in Iran early on Thursday, 30 July 2026 (8 Mordad 1405).

In the same report, six informed sources told Reuters that China has contacted the group directly to obtain guarantees of safe passage for its tankers through the southern Red Sea, asking it not to target Chinese vessels. Beijing is seeking to keep oil imports flowing from Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port to offset any shortfall caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking data from Kpler, the London Stock Exchange Group and MarineTraffic shows at least four tankers carrying cargo from Saudi ports to China have transited the strait since the blockade was announced.

China's foreign ministry said it is closely monitoring Red Sea developments and stressed respect for the sovereignty of regional states and the security and freedom of navigation. The Houthis announced a naval blockade of shipping to Saudi ports on 20 July 2026.