Container ships sail across the Gulf of Suez towards the Red Sea before entering the Suez Canal, in El Ain El Sokhna in Suez, east of Cairo, Egypt, March 17, 2018. Picture taken March 17, 2018. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
Yemen’s Houthi-run maritime coordination body denied on Saturday that it planned to impose fees on commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, saying no such decision had been taken and that passage through the strategic waterway remained free.
The statement follows a Reuters report on Wednesday, citing regional sources, that the Iran-aligned Houthis were considering imposing fees on ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, a week after declaring a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia.
The sources in the Reuters report had said the proposal on fees was discussed with Iranian officials during a visit to Tehran by Houthi officials in July, although no timeframe for implementation had been decided.
The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC) said its “safe transit service was a voluntary and cost-free service”.
“The HOCC categorically confirms that any individual or entity requesting the payment of money in exchange for transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait does not represent the Republic of Yemen or HOCC in any capacity whatsoever,” it said in a statement.
“The HOCC urges shipping companies not to make any payments or provide any information to unauthorised individuals or entities,” it said.
Tanker hit by unknown projectile near Oman, UKMTO says
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman, damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel not under command, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early Saturday.
UKMTO said in a warning notice that it received a report from the vessel’s company security officer that the incident occurred about 11 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman.
The projectile damaged the engine room, while the regional coast guard has been informed and authorities are investigating, it said.
UKMTO said there were no reported casualties or environmental effects. The flag of the targeted vessel remains unclear.
US, Israel preparing major strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure: reports
The US and Israel are preparing for what could become one of the most intense bombing campaigns against Iranian energy infrastructure, with strikes possible during the weekend, CBS News reported on Friday.
The report said there had been discussion of wrapping up any campaign before financial markets open Monday, given concerns about economic fallout, though no firm deadline was set. Israel has been briefed and is coordinating with Washington, but President Donald Trump had not yet issued final authorisation, according to sources.
An Israeli official told CBS News that Israel was not aware of any decision to resume full-scale military operations and had not been asked to join strikes against Iran.
Speaking at a Camp David Cabinet meeting, Trump said, “We’ll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.'”
White House spokesman Karoline Leavitt said the US “will win,” and that Iran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon under Trump’s watch.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the agency was “locked and loaded” but declined to discuss targets ahead of a presidential decision.
The report said power plants and refineries were likely targets, with US officials also weighing cutting electricity to Tehran.
A separate report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing US officials, noted that the new attacks were authorised at the Camp David presidential retreat.
The officials, speaking to the WSJ, reported that Trump may halt the strikes and return to negotiations with Iran if there is “immediate progress on the diplomatic front.”
Citing a senior Iranian security official, the Tasnim News Agency reported that Tehran prepared “a comprehensive plan” to retaliate against any potential US strikes.
Describing the reports of newly planned strikes against Iranian targets as a “form of recklessness,” the official told Tasnim, “We have prepared a comprehensive plan to respond, which includes critical infrastructure in both Israel and the United States’ energy infrastructure in the region, and we are ready to implement it.”
The official also claimed that Iran has “capability and the will” to retaliate against US-Israeli strikes.
