On Aug. 1 the Houthi-run Humanitarian Action Coordination Center in Sana'a
denied reports it intends to charge transit fees in the Bab al-Mandeb, saying
security passage is completely free and all vessels outside embargo lists may
pass safely. The center said it published an email for ships to request security
passage and warned any individual or entity demanding payments in the name of
Bab al-Mandeb transit does not represent Yemen.
