DUBAI, September 13 — Iran-backed Houthi fighters have seized territory close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the narrow waterway between Yemen and the Horn of Africa that carries a significant share of the world’s trade and oil between Asia and Europe. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, say they pose no threat to international shipping. They have repeated their intention to target vessels from Saudi Arabia.
That distinction matters for the tankers and cargo ships that pass through the strait every day, and for the ports and economies on both shores.
A double choke point
Saudi Arabia has leaned more heavily on the Red Sea for its oil exports since the war involving the United States and Israel effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. The Hormuz closure pushed Gulf producers toward the Red Sea route. Now that route itself is under pressure from the Houthi advance.
The Bab al-Mandab sits between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa. It links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
Any disruption there could force vessels to take the longer route around the southern tip of Africa, adding costs and delays to shipments moving between Europe and Asia.
Displacement and a long war
At least 46,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated last week, according to the United Nations. The UN has repeatedly warned that the situation in Yemen remains dire, with millions of people in need of assistance, and has called for a ceasefire and for all parties to respect international humanitarian law. The Houthi movement has been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since 2015.
The coalition intervened that year to restore Yemen’s internationally recognized government, after the Houthis took the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The war has since become a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and has killed tens of thousands of people while creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The Houthis have been accused of receiving support from Iran, which Saudi Arabia and the United States have condemned. The United States and its allies have a significant interest in keeping the Bab al-Mandab open, as it is a key route for commercial and military vessels.
What to watch
The BBC’s Verify team, including Thomas Copeland, Aisha Sembhi and Mark Edwards, has reported on the situation. The international community is closely monitoring developments, as any escalation could affect oil prices and global trade flows, and is urging restraint from all parties. The situation remains fluid.
Further updates are expected as the Houthi advance continues, and the coming days will show whether the group’s stated restraint on international shipping holds — and whether the fighting pushes more Yemeni families from their homes.
