Houthi Official Says Japanese Vessels Will Not Be Targeted in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

A Houthi official stated on Thursday that Japanese vessels will not be targeted, as the Iran-aligned group enforces a blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait against ships linked to Saudi Arabia. In a telephone interview with Kyodo News, the official said the group would not ‘hinder freedom of navigation.’ However, while denying reports that the group was considering charging transit fees, the official said ships passing through the waterway must obtain permission from them to do so. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has become an alternative route for crude oil transport following the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis implemented the blockade after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and Japan relies heavily on crude oil imports from the Middle East.