Houthi rebels reportedly developing maritime taxation system for Bab el-Mandeb transit

The Yemeni government in Aden alleges that Houthi forces, backed by Iran, are establishing a formal taxation mechanism for commercial vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This move, modeled after Iranian practices in the Strait of Hormuz, represents a significant escalation in efforts to assert sovereignty over international shipping lanes. The operational status of this system remains unverified, though it signals a shift toward institutionalizing maritime disruption.