While the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is already disrupting global energy flows, attention is now turning to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another vital artery of maritime trade.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump issued a scathing threat against Iran and its infrastructure, demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before Tuesday's deadline. This warning comes after US forces rescued a wounded pilot whose aircraft, shot down by Iran, had crashed behind enemy lines.
In response, Tehran has struck infrastructure in several neighboring Arab Gulf countries, raising the threat of traffic restrictions in another strategic sea route: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, off the Arabian Peninsula.
Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has been shipping millions of barrels of crude oil through it daily. Only 32 kilometers wide, this passage is among the busiest in the world for oil transport. Nearly a quarter of global container traffic also passes through it, in connection with the Suez Canal.
This maritime corridor connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, making it a crucial point for international trade. Any disruption to traffic in this area would have immediate repercussions for the maritime industry and the global economy.
Fears have intensified since the Houthis entered the war. Several observers fear that the Yemeni movement will resume its attacks against ships in the Red Sea, further exacerbating tensions on global supply chains.
Such a situation would force shipping companies to divert their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, as was already the case in 2024 and 2025, resulting in considerably longer journeys and a significant increase in transport costs.
The Houthis have already stated that they will not allow either the United States or Israel to use the Red Sea to conduct operations against Iran.
