A senior Houthi official said Sunday that the group may block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and charge transit fees to hostile nations [1].

This threat targets one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, which serves as the gateway to the Suez Canal. Any disruption in this region could destabilize global trade and increase pressure on the U.S. and its allies.

Mohamed Al-Buhaiti said that if fighting expands across the entire region, indirect effects could ultimately lead to the blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in addition to the Strait of Hormuz [2]. He said that the group is considering the collection of transit fees from countries it deems hostile to increase leverage against the U.S. [2].

Al-Buhaiti said that countries not participating in the aggression against Yemen would not be charged these fees in the future [2]. This distinction suggests the group is using maritime access as a political tool to isolate specific nations.

Reports from Ambrey, a British maritime security firm, indicate that the Ansar Allah group, known as the Houthis, is currently discussing the implementation of these transit fees in the Red Sea [3]. While some reports suggest a resumption of blockades, other accounts indicate the official has only suggested the possibility at this time [2].

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz are both described as vital strategic points for international shipping. The Houthis have previously targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, and these new statements signal a potential escalation in their strategy to disrupt maritime traffic [1], [2].

“Indirect effects could ultimately lead to the blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in addition to the Strait of Hormuz”

The threat to monetize or block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait represents a shift from opportunistic attacks to a systematic attempt to control a global trade artery. By proposing a tiered system of transit fees based on political alignment, the Houthis are attempting to leverage international commerce to force diplomatic concessions from the U.S. and its partners.