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The Bab al-Mandeb Strait not only connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, but also gives ships coming from the latter access to the Suez Canal...
In its response to Israel's attack on Lebanon, Iran has threatened to "activate other fronts," such as the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. But where is it located and how important is this waterway to global trade?
-The connection between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. It is also called the "Gate of Tears" because of the dangerous navigation conditions. It borders Yemen, which is also home to the Houthis, an Iranian proxy force.
-How important is the strait?
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait not only connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, but also gives ships coming from the latter access to the Suez Canal, which is located further up. It is one of the world's most important shipping routes for goods, especially crude oil from the Gulf to the Mediterranean.
Professor Samir Dani of Keele University Business School has stated that if Iranian attacks around Suez were to lead to an effective closure there, the disruption would go beyond oil and gas.
"Closing the Suez Canal would cause further chaos and disruption around the world, not only in terms of oil and gas, but also by blocking the supply chain route of everyday goods from Asia to Europe... Closing the Red Sea route would lead to ships from Asia to Europe being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, leading to an average travel time of 15 days (if not more), additional fuel demand and, in general, a rapid increase in transport costs that would be passed on to consumers," he said.
-Who are the Houthis and what can they do?
The Houthis are Iran's Shiite allies in Yemen and have previously threatened shipping through the canal. In support of Hamas in the Gaza war, they have struck targets beyond Yemen and cut off sea lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea.
"The Bab el Mandeb Strait could be made dangerous by the Houthis, as they have proven, but in a much easier way ," says military analyst Michael Clarke.
The Houthis have so far largely stayed out of the current conflict, with diplomats and analysts saying the group was waiting for an opportune moment to exert maximum pressure.
"So far, Iran is doing well and is defeating the enemy every day and the battle is going in its direction. If something happens contrary to this, then we can appreciate it," a Houthi leader told Reuters in late March.
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