Shippers wishing to cross Bab al-Mandab email Houthis for permits, sign up for alerts - report

The Jerusalem Post · DANYA SAPERSTEIN · 2026-11-06 15:35 UTC

Emails are sent to an administrative entity established by the Houthis in early 2024 called the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, which handles applications.

Captains who wish to transit the Bab al-Mandab Strait have been using a communication channel with the Iran-backed Houthi terror group via email for safe transit, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

While technically the Houthis have said ships not linked to the US, UK, or Israel are allowed through the strait, after the Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in July, shippers have begun emailing the terror group to receive assurances of their safety.

Emails are sent to an administrative entity established by the Houthis in early 2024 called the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, which handles applications and communicates the Houthis actions.

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