With the Strait of Hormuz largely shut, the world’s attention is turning to a second chokepoint: the Bab el-Mandeb. This narrow strait at the southern end of the Red Sea connects Europe and the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal, to Asia and the Indian Ocean. In September 2026, Yemen’s Houthi rebels captured the nearby port city of Mocha. Here is why this little-known waterway matters to global trade and American consumers.
Key facts
- Location: between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in Africa.
- Width: about 18 miles at its narrowest.
- Name: Arabic for “Gate of Grief” or “Gate of Tears.”
- Oil flows: about 9.3 million barrels per day in 2023, falling to about 4.1 million in 2024 after Houthi attacks, according to EIA data cited by TIME.
- Connection: ships passing Bab el-Mandeb usually also use the Suez Canal or Egypt’s Sumed pipeline.
Where is the Bab el-Mandeb?
The strait sits at the bottom of the Red Sea, where it opens into the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Yemen controls the eastern shore, and the small island of Perim divides the channel. On the African side lies Djibouti, home to a major U.S. military base, Camp Lemonnier, and bases of several other countries.
Why it matters
The Red Sea route is the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe. Without it, ships must sail around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope — adding roughly 10 to 14 days and significant fuel costs to a voyage between Asia and Europe. Oil, liquefied natural gas, containers full of consumer goods and grain all use the route. As one analyst at the Washington Institute put it to TIME, if the strait closes, “There’s no other way.”
In 2026 the Bab el-Mandeb matters even more, because Saudi Arabia is sending much of its oil west through its East-West pipeline to Yanbu on the Red Sea. Cargoes headed for Asia must then pass through the Bab el-Mandeb.
The Houthi threat
Yemen’s Houthis began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea in November 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. More than 100 ships were targeted by April 2025, and many shipping companies rerouted around Africa. The U.S. and allies launched naval operations to protect shipping. The Houthis paused their maritime campaign in late 2025, then entered the Iran war in March 2026.
In September 2026, Houthi forces captured Mocha, a port city close to the strait, after heavy fighting with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. A senior Houthi official has warned that Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz could be closed together, sending oil to $200 a barrel. (Background: The Next Hormuz? and Who are the Houthis?)
Could the Bab el-Mandeb be closed?
The Houthis do not have a navy capable of physically blocking the strait, but drones, anti-ship missiles, small boats and mines can make it too dangerous for insurers and ship owners. That is what happened in 2023–2024: the strait stayed technically open, but traffic dropped sharply. A renewed campaign while Hormuz is disrupted would hit both of the Middle East’s main oil export routes at the same time.
What it means for Americans
- Energy prices: Another disruption would add to pressure on crude oil and gasoline. See why gas prices are so high.
- Consumer goods: Longer voyages raise freight costs for products shipped from Asia to Europe and the U.S. East Coast via Suez.
- U.S. military: The U.S. Navy has repeatedly deployed to defend Red Sea shipping, and U.S. forces in Djibouti sit right at the strait.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bab el-Mandeb mean?
It is Arabic for “Gate of Grief” or “Gate of Tears,” a name often linked to the dangers of navigating the strait.
Is the Bab el-Mandeb open?
Yes, ships are passing, but the Houthis’ capture of Mocha and their threats have raised risks and insurance costs.
What is the difference between Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb?
Hormuz is the only sea exit from the Persian Gulf; Bab el-Mandeb is the southern gate of the Red Sea. Together they carry a large share of the world’s seaborne oil.
Information current as of late October 2026.
