Bab al-Mandeb shipping halts as Yemen conflict escalates

Photo — YUKSEL OZDEMIR / Pexels

The Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, a narrow chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, has effectively shut to normal shipping movements as the conflict in Yemen intensifies.[5] According to reports, Houthi fighters have captured key coastal areas overlooking this critical waterway, causing commercial and energy cargo ships to suspend transits or take far longer detours around the Cape of Good Hope.[5] Because roughly one‑tenth of global maritime trade flows through Bab al‑Mandeb, the disruption is poised to affect oil and gas shipments, container traffic between Europe and Asia, and supply chains already strained by other geopolitical tensions.[5] The halt comes amid a broader escalation in the Yemen war, with regional powers and global markets closely watching for possible military responses, insurance cost spikes, and knock‑on effects on energy prices and global inflation.

Sources: YeniSafak, China.org.cn, The New York Times, Euronews