• Source:JND

As the US struggles to carry out operations in the Strait of Hormuz, fearing Iran's retaliatory fire, Bab- Al-Mandab is also attracting controversy after breaching the one-month mark.

The Bab-al-Mandab, also known as the Gate of Tears, is a part of the Red Sea, and Yemen is located on one of its sides. The Houthis are a section of the Axis of Resistance. The key objective of the Houthis is to resist anti-Western and anti-Israel actors in West Asia. The Axis consists of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas/PIJ in Palestine, Houthi forces in Yemen, and various Iraqi militias.

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Since the start of the Gaza war, the Houthis have deliberately targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in late 2023 using missiles, drones, and explosive boats, saying they were targeting ships linked to Israel during the Gaza war.

Experts say that the Bab-el-Mandab Strait may rise as a key component in the US-Iran War, given that the Houthis started the missile launch towards Israel for the first-ever time since the war with Tehran started.

Yemen is located on one side of the strait, and the Houthis have previously attacked shipping in the Red Sea. The attacks caused major disruptions in late 2023 and 2024.

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What Is The Long-Term Risk?

As of now, the Houthis have not made any blockade; however, any attacks could lead to major impact on the world economy. "The Houthi's ability to disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which accounts for roughly 12 percent of global trade, is the new key risk," Hindustan Times quoted analyst Chris Weston as saying.

Can The Strait Be Closed

Bab el-Mandab cannot be "closed" completely, in contrast to the Strait of Hormuz, from which there is only one exit. Even if there is an interruption on one end, ships can still use the Suez Canal to leave for the Mediterranean.

However, oil transported to Asia from this new exit point still has to pass through Bab el-Mandab to avoid the longer way around and face higher commute costs.

Even with the Houthis' recurring Red Sea attacks, the Strait was never totally "closed," with some ships continuing to pass through throughout the crisis.


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