Bab el-Mandeb Strait: How targeted Houthi attacks and geopolitical tensions helped strangle shipping through this strategic chokepoint
01/21/2025 // Arsenio Toledo // Views

  • The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical 20-mile-wide maritime passage, has become a geopolitical flashpoint, impacting global trade, energy security and regional stability due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships since late 2023.
  • Houthi missile and drone strikes, initially targeting Israel-linked vessels, have expanded to include all Western shipping, forcing major shipping companies to reroute via South Africa, increasing costs and delays.
  • The strait, historically contested and vital for global oil shipments, saw oil traffic drop by over 50 percent in 2024, highlighting its role as a linchpin in global energy markets and maritime trade.
  • The strait’s strategic importance is amplified by U.S.-China rivalry and intra-Gulf competition, with both nations maintaining military bases in Djibouti, further entangling global powers in the region’s instability.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow 20-mile-wide passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, has in recent years become a flashpoint in global geopolitics, with far-reaching implications for international trade, energy security and regional stability.

Since November 2023, Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched a series of missile and drone attacks on commercial ships traversing this critical waterway. These attacks, initially targeting vessels linked to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have since expanded to include ships associated with the United States and the United Kingdom. (Related: Red Sea shootdown: Did the Houthis play a role in the U.S. navy's "friendly fire" incident?)

The resulting disruption has forced major shipping companies to reroute around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, increasing costs and delivery times while reshaping global trade flows.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait has been a focal point of global trade for centuries, serving as a gateway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. Its control has been contested by empires and nations alike, from the Ottomans to the British. Today, it remains a critical artery for global commerce, particularly for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to Europe and Asia.

In 2023, an estimated 8.7 million barrels of oil per day flowed through the strait, but by August 2024, that figure had plummeted to 4.0 million barrels per day.

The strait’s importance is magnified by its location in the Horn of Africa, a region historically plagued by instability but increasingly seen as a hub for economic and geopolitical competition. Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with global powers such as China, have invested heavily in ports and infrastructure in the region, seeking to secure their interests in this vital maritime corridor.

China, in particular, has established a significant presence in Djibouti, home to its first overseas military base, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

Targeted Houthi strikes and threats against shipping successfully choke traffic through Bab el-Mandeb

The Houthi attacks have slashed oil traffic through the strait by over 50 percent in the first eight months of 2024, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This decline underscores the strait's role as a linchpin in global energy markets, with 15 percent of global maritime trade passing through it annually.

Israel, the U.S. and their allies have responded with military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, aiming to restore freedom of navigation and stabilize energy markets. However, the situation remains precarious.

The Houthi attacks are not merely a local conflict but part of a broader proxy war between Iran and its rivals. The Houthis, a Shia rebel group that controls much of western Yemen, have leveraged their position along the strait to disrupt global trade and pressure the U.S. and its allies. Their actions have drawn international condemnation but also exposed the limits of military deterrence.

"The inability of oil to transit a major chokepoint, even temporarily, can lead to substantial supply delays and higher shipping costs, resulting in higher world energy prices," the EIA noted in a recent report.

The crisis has also highlighted the strait's strategic importance in the broader context of U.S.-China rivalry and intra-Gulf competition, with both nations maintaining military bases in Djibouti, which flanks the strait.

"Overtly deterring the Iranian-backed Houthis means the U.S. would need to be willing to engage in a wider military confrontation with Iran," said Joe Macaron, a Middle East Program Global Fellow for the Wilson Center. This dynamic complicates efforts to stabilize the region, particularly as Arab and European allies remain reluctant to join a broader military campaign.

Find more stories like this at SupplyChainWarning.com.

Watch this video showcasing how Houthi missiles set fire to a Norwegian tanker traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

SABOTAGE? Chinese vessel accused of intentionally severing undersea cables in Europe.

Malaysia, which controls 25 percent of the world's sea route trade via the Strait of Malacca, announced it is joining BRICS.

Geopolitical analyst warns of economic chaos should Iran shut down Strait of Hormuz.

China continues to threaten Taiwanese airspace, deploying WARPLANES to cross Taiwan Strait median line.

U.S. warns China about plans to increase military drills in South China Sea region.

Sources include:

WilsonCenter.org

GCaptain.com

MEI.edu

Brighteon.com



Take Action:
Support Natural News by linking to this article from your website.
Permalink to this article:
Copy
Embed article link:
Copy
Reprinting this article:
Non-commercial use is permitted with credit to NaturalNews.com (including a clickable link).
Please contact us for more information.
Free Email Alerts
Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.
App Store
Android App
eTrust Pro Certified

This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.

This site uses cookies
Natural News uses cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy.
Learn More
Close
Get 100% real, uncensored news delivered straight to your inbox
You can unsubscribe at any time. Your email privacy is completely protected.