EXPLAINER: What is Bab el-Mandeb Strait and why is it important?

The Iran-aligned Houthi forces have recently joined the Middle East conflict by firing missiles at Israel, raising the possibility that another important shipping route might be blocked—the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

What is Bab el-Mandeb Strait and what happens if it is blocked?

Called the "Gate of Tears" in Arabic, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a critical maritime choke point that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is also the only direct route to the Suez Canal. 

Like the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait plays a major role in the global economy as about 12% of global trade passes through it every day.

It is one of the most important routes for seaborne commodity shipments such as crude oil and other petroleum products from the Gulf of Aden.

Fuel bound for Asia, including Russian oil, also passes the strait.

However, recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Israel raised the prospect that they could also target and block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said over the weekend that the group carried out a second attack on Israel in less than 24 hours using missiles and drones, and vowed to continue military operations in the coming days.

The Houthis said they would continue their operations until the "aggression" on all fronts ended.

Should the Houthis carry out their plan, the shipping of oil from the port of Yanbi in Al Madinah province of Saudi Arabia to the Gulf of Aden, out to the Indian subcontinent, and to countries that import oil from Saudi Arabia may be affected. This is the route taken by about 10% of global oil shipments. 

With the Strait of Hormuz closed, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is the alternative route for shipping petroleum products out of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.

Should Bab el-Mandeb be blocked, vessels will be forced to reroute around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope, possibly delaying their delivery schedules by 10 to 14 days.

In 2024, the Houthis also targeted commercial ships and naval vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. These attacks severely disrupted global supply chains. — with research and information from GMA News, GMA News DigiLab, and GMA News Research/ VDV, GMA Integrated News