Yemen's Houthis are seriously considering imposing transit fees on commercial ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Chinese vessels expected to be exempt, according to Reuters.
The proposal reportedly follows discussions with Iranian officials and comes days after the Houthis announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia.
Intelligence suggests the Houthis are formalizing control over Bab el-Mandeb — creating a permanent toll system modeled on Iran's Hormuz framework, with fees potentially paid in stablecoins or Chinese Yuan.