US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: The war in the Middle East involving the US, Israel and Iran is raising fresh concerns over global shipping after reports suggested Tehran could ask Yemen’s Houthi rebels to target the Bab al-Mandab Strait if US military action against Iranian infrastructure intensifies.
The development has shifted attention to another critical maritime chokepoint that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and carries a significant share of global trade.
The warning comes at a time when commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has already slowed because of regional tensions. If disruptions spread to Bab al-Mandab, global energy markets, supply chains and international shipping routes could face fresh pressure.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Is Iran Planning to Close the Bab al-Mandab Strait?
Recent reports suggest Iran has warned that it could ask Yemen’s Houthi movement to block the Bab al-Mandab Strait if the United States expands attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
Iranian officials have not officially announced the closure of the waterway. However, statements carried by Iranian state media warned that regional export routes used by the US and its allies could become targets if the conflict escalates further.
The reports have raised concerns because the Houthis have previously attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea, forcing many shipping companies to divert cargo around Africa.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Where Is the Bab al-Mandab Strait Located?
The Bab al-Mandab Strait lies between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the Horn of Africa. The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden before opening into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Although only around 32 kilometres wide at its narrowest point, it serves as one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East through the Suez Canal.
Because of its strategic location, any disruption can quickly affect international shipping.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Why Bab al-Mandab Is in Focus After Strait of Hormuz?
The Bab al-Mandab Strait has gained greater importance after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz reduced the normal movement of commercial vessels.
Several Gulf countries have looked for alternative export routes that avoid Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has increased the use of its East-West Pipeline, allowing crude oil to reach the Red Sea before passing through Bab al-Mandab.
As a result, the Red Sea route has become even more critical for global energy supplies. If both waterways face disruptions simultaneously, exporters would have very limited options for transporting oil to international markets.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: How Much Oil Passes Through Bab al-Mandab?
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), crude oil and petroleum liquids moving through the Bab al-Mandab Strait reached approximately 9.3 million barrels per day in 2023.
The figure dropped sharply to around 4.1 million barrels per day in 2024 after repeated Houthi attacks disrupted commercial shipping.
Recent EIA data also shows crude oil and condensate flows increasing from 3.7 million barrels per day in early 2025 to approximately 5.4 million barrels per day during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting increased use of the route.
Liquefied natural gas shipments have also resumed after earlier disruptions.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: How Is the Strait of Hormuz Linked to Bab al-Mandab?
The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are two of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints.
Oil exported from Gulf producers often travels through Hormuz before moving toward the Red Sea and Europe via Bab al-Mandab and the Suez Canal.
When traffic slows in Hormuz, exporters attempt to redirect shipments using pipelines that end at Red Sea ports. Those cargoes must still pass through Bab al-Mandab before reaching Europe or other destinations.
This makes both waterways closely connected within global energy supply chains.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What Happens if the Houthis Block the Strait?
If Houthi forces disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, many commercial vessels would likely avoid the Red Sea altogether. Instead, ships would have to sail around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, adding thousands of kilometres to each journey.
Longer voyages would increase fuel costs, insurance premiums and delivery times while placing additional pressure on already strained global supply chains. Industries dependent on imported energy and manufactured goods could also experience higher transportation costs.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: How Could It Affect Global Oil Prices & Shipping?
A prolonged disruption at both Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab could significantly affect global energy markets. Oil exporters may struggle to move supplies efficiently, reducing available shipments and placing upward pressure on crude prices.
Shipping companies would also face higher operating costs because of longer routes, increased security measures and elevated insurance rates. These costs could eventually be passed on to consumers through higher fuel prices and increased costs for imported products.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What’s Next?
Governments, shipping companies and energy markets are closely watching developments across the Middle East as military tensions continue. While no closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait has occurred, recent warnings have highlighted the vulnerability of global trade routes during periods of geopolitical conflict.
Any further escalation involving Iran, the Houthis or US-led forces could have consequences extending far beyond the Middle East, affecting international trade, energy security and the global economy.
