Some commercial ships obtain passage permission from the Houthis before passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait, according to the WSJ. The Houthi-run coordination center processes these crossing requests, raising concerns about the groups' growing control of the strategic waterway.

Some commercial ships obtain passage permission from the Houthis before passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait, according to the WSJ. The Houthi-run coordination center processes these crossing requests, raising concerns about the groups' growing control of the strategic waterway.