Houthis Ensure Safe Passage of Ships in the Red Sea with New Guidelines

Sea News – International Desk – In a significant and new development, the Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) has officially issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), providing a transparent framework for the passage of ships in waters under their control, including the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandeb, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea. This step has drawn attention as a move to regulate shipping and guarantee the security of maritime routes.

According to the guidelines, vessels not subject to sanctions announced by the Houthis can obtain safe passage permits by submitting requests to the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center managed in Sana’a. These services will be provided free of charge. Conversely, ships associated with institutions or companies listed on the Houthi sanctions list will face deterrent measures.

The Houthis emphasized in the document that their regulations are formulated within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the objective is to prevent companies affiliated with the Israeli regime from exploiting maritime routes, thereby protecting the security and economy of regional nations.

The group also recommended that ships submit their requests two days prior to entering Yemeni waters, keep their AIS systems active, clearly declare their final destinations, and respond to contacts from Yemeni armed forces.

Experts believe this move reflects the Houthis’ attempt to present themselves as a responsible political actor with recognized governance authority. Analysts note that issuing official warnings before any deterrent action indicates that the movement’s maritime policies are deliberate and that their attacks are neither random nor indiscriminate.

Previously, as part of their anti-Israeli stance, the Houthis had published a list of sanctioned vessels and repeatedly emphasized the prohibition of vessels cooperating with ports in occupied Palestine.

Despite concerns raised by some Western sources, field realities suggest that issuing these guidelines increases transparency, builds trust for non-sanctioned ships, and strengthens Sana’a’s position as a maritime power in regional calculations.