The Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced plans to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked vessels, citing retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s blockade on Yemen and a recent military strike on an airport in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa. The group claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, with fires reported on both vessels and no casualties confirmed.
Bab el-Mandeb represents one of the world’s most crucial shipping routes, situated at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula where the Red Sea connects to the Gulf of Aden. Approximately 12% of global trade transits through the narrows, including roughly one-quarter of all container traffic. The strait has become increasingly important for Saudi oil exports, as disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz during ongoing regional conflict have severely constrained shipping from the Persian Gulf. In June alone, more than 7 million barrels of petroleum daily passed through Bab el-Mandeb, compared to around 4 million before the current regional tensions.
According to three Houthi officials, the group has spent months planning to disrupt shipping through military methods including naval mines, explosive boats, drones, and helicopter-based boarding operations. A warning system would precede any military action against vessels crossing designated boundaries. History suggests that even sporadic attacks can effectively close critical waterways by raising insurance costs and perceived risks, as demonstrated by Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia maintains alternative export routes, with the capacity to ship crude through Egypt’s SUMED pipeline and the Suez Canal, or to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, though such measures add significant time and expense to voyages. International observers warn that simultaneous pressure on two major maritime chokepoints could create unprecedented disruptions to global trade. Analysts note that the blockade threat benefits Iran while potentially reigniting conflict in Yemen, where a truce has held since 2022. Saudi Arabia’s military has pledged to keep the strait open and characterized any threats as violations of international law.
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