Yemeni Houthis are considering imposing fees on commercial ships passing through the southern part of the Red Sea, Reuters reported, citing sources in the region.
The Houthis plan to impose a fee on most ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden in the Arabian Sea. The agency's sources did not provide a specific timeframe. They claim that the Houthis intend to increase pressure on the United States. Chinese ships will be exempt from the fees.