The investigation team of the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on Yemen revealed that the Houthi group earns about $180 million a month in taxes from maritime shipping agencies in exchange for not intercepting its commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The UN investigation team said that it had received information that shipping agencies were coordinating with a company affiliated with a high-ranking Houthi leader, explaining that fees were being deposited in various accounts through banking operations and settlements involving trade-based money laundering.

The team added: “The sources estimate that the Houthis’ revenues from the fees they impose for illegal safe crossing operations are approximately $180 million per month.”

He stressed that the road map agreement can only be signed when the regional situation becomes favorable and the Houthis stop attacking ships in the Red Sea.

He pointed out the need to address the long-standing economic challenges that threaten peace, security and stability in Yemen, before they turn into an all-out war.

The Houthi group announced, on Monday evening, the targeting of 3 commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, hours after the British Navy announced that a ship passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait had been attacked.

A statement issued by the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that their forces carried out 3 military operations, as part of what he called “continuing to impose the naval blockade on the Israeli enemy.”

The British Navy announced that a ship passing through the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait off the Red Sea was attacked on Monday.

The attack marks the end of an 18-day lull in attacks attributed to the Houthis, who have attacked ships passing through the Red Sea corridor for nearly a year due to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip