All articles tagged with #bab el mandeb
A cargo vessel in the Red Sea reported it was under attack by unknown assailants about 30 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen, with authorities investigating and urging cautious transits. The incident highlights ongoing security concerns at the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint amid broader US-Iran tensions and shifting oil routes through the region.
Oil markets remain vulnerable as the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed and a Houthi disruption of Bab el-Mandeb could force Saudi exports to reroute around Africa, adding weeks to shipments, inflating freight costs and potentially removing millions of barrels per day from global supply; Aramco’s East-West pipeline has mitigated some constraints, but a bigger Red Sea disruption could trigger further price spikes.
Oil prices climb toward $115 a barrel as the Iran war persists and ceasefire talks stall; U.S. gasoline hits a record high while Iran warns it could retaliate against shipping via Bab el-Mandeb and maintains pressure on Hormuz, the rial sinks amid port blockades, and political posturing from Trump and others adds to market jitters and geopolitical tension.
Somalia warned it could restrict access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in retaliation for Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and the appointment of an Israeli envoy there, signaling potential repercussions over what Mogadishu calls interference in its sovereignty. Analysts warn such a blockade would be risky and largely impractical for a country with limited military capacity, and could draw international pushback given the strategic shipping chokepoint amid sensitivities over global trade routes.
Analysts warn the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—the Red Sea gateway—could become the world’s second major shipping chokepoint after Hormuz as the Houthis enter the conflict, risking disruption to about 14% of global maritime trade and roughly 4.2 million barrels of oil per day. While the strait cannot be fully closed, attacks or rising insurance costs could slow Red Sea transit via the Suez Canal, potentially hobbling supply chains and raising energy prices worldwide.
Saudi Arabia redirected millions of barrels to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea to offset potential Hormuz disruption, but Iran-backed Houthis entering the war threaten to close Bab el-Mandeb. Losing Yanbu’s flow or a blocked strait could push Brent higher—potentially to $150+ per barrel—while Asia would bear the brunt, with ships rerouted via longer paths and costs rising for insurers, freight, and energy.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to ships not granted passage and warned of a severe response, sending crude prices above $110 a barrel. The regime also hints it could target the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint, which handles about 10% of world oil, raising the prospect of broader supply disruption. The move comes as the UAE seeks to form an international Hormuz Security Force to reopen the strait, while analysts warn oil could spike toward $200 a barrel by June; Yemen’s Houthi movement remains a potential escalator, though active involvement is not confirmed.
Iran-backed Houthis threaten to close Bab el-Mandeb, a crucial Red Sea strait that carries about 10% of global oil and gas, compounding disruptions from Hormuz and potentially pushing crude prices toward $150 a barrel; while the Houthis have paused but warned of escalation, analysts warn that a closure could force rerouting via Yanbu and dramatically raise energy-security risks across markets.
Iran and its Yemen-based Houthi allies have warned they could target Red Sea shipping, potentially locking the Bab el-Mandeb strait and disrupting routes that carry about 10% of the world’s oil and 20% of containers, as U.S. actions against Iran intensify. The Houthis released a threatening video and said all options are on the table, signaling a broader asymmetric warfare tactic against Gulf partners, with analysts noting the region’s shipping chokepoints are a key leverage point and oil prices have risen amid the tension.
Houthi terrorists launched attacks against U.S. warships, including the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance, in the Bab el Mandeb strait using drones and missiles, which were successfully intercepted without causing damage or injuries. The attacks followed U.S. airstrikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln, though there is no evidence to support this.