Why a second global shipping chokepoint could soon live up to its name as the ‘Gate of Tears’ |
If you’d never heard of the Strait of Hormuz before, you probably have by now. Iran’s effective closure of the waterway, which usually carries about 20% of the world’s oil and gas, has put severe pressure on the global economy.
Now, some analysts are warning a new flashpoint could emerge: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
That’s because on March 28, the Houthis, a military group that controls large parts of northern Yemen and is aligned with Iran, entered the war, launching missiles towards Israel for the first time since the war with Iran began.
Yemen is situated on one side of the strait, and the Houthis have previously attacked shipping in the Red Sea, causing major disruption in late 2023 and 2024.
Bloomberg now reports Iran has approached the Houthis to prepare for a similar campaign.
Here’s why all eyes will be back on the Houthis, Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea, and what disruption of a second major chokepoint could mean for the world economy.
What is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is about 30 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. It is situated between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula to the northeast and Eritrea and Djibouti in Africa on the west.
Its name literally means “Gate of Tears” in Arabic, after its famously treacherous sailing conditions.
It has become so important because, along with the Suez Canal in Egypt,........