Sanaa, July 29 -- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia is reportedly considering imposing fees on commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, a week after declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.
The Islamist group announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia on July 20, opening a new front in the regional conflict involving the US and its allies while expanding attacks on commercial shipping carrying global energy supplies beyond the Gulf.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the Houthis are examining plans to levy charges on most commercial vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the strategic waterway linking the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. No timetable for implementing the proposal ha...