Red Sea: the importance of the Mandeb Strait, where Houthi attacks on ships occur

It is no coincidence that its name, Bab el Mandeb, means “the door of tears” or “the door of pain” in Arabic.

This alludes to the dangers – from currents and winds to piracy and conflict – that for millennia have awaited sailors transiting the entrance to the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea.

Some dangers that today have become more relevant than ever.

The Mandeb Strait is a current focus due to armed attacks by Houthi militiamen from Yemen against vessels from various countries on one of the busiest international trade routes.

In response, the US and UK bombed several areas controlled by the Houthis, radical Islamist insurgents with a Shiite majority fighting to seize power in Yemen's ongoing civil war.

Thus, the Mandeb Strait has become a scene of international conflict.

But what is this place like and what is its commercial and geopolitical importance?

A historic corridor

First, let's review the history of this important maritime corridor.

With 115 kilometers in length, the Bab el Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

It is 36 kilometers wide at its narrowest part, where the island of Perim is located, which divides the strait into two channels with opposite currents.

This stretch of water has held a crucial place in trade, culture and also conflict for much of the history of human civilization.

Its commercial value was recognized since ancient Egypt with expeditions in search of precious goods such as incense, gold and exotic animals, while the Romans depended on this passage to trade with India and the East.

And starting in the Middle Ages, the Strait of Bab el Mandeb was consolidated as an important trade route for spices, textiles and other products, enriching the empires of the time and later European powers such as Portugal, Spain and more. late the British Empire on its journeys towards India and the East Indies.

However, it was the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 that made Bab el Mandeb an essential step to complete the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia.

Because it is important

The geopolitical importance of the Mandeb Strait has been highlighted due to its proximity to conflict zones such as Yemen, a country immersed in a civil war.

These conflicts, together with the activities of pirates in the region, explain the military presence of world powers, especially the United States, and their forceful responses to actions that endanger maritime traffic in the area.

The Red Sea corridor is one of the busiest in the world, carrying approximately a quarter of all maritime trade on the planet.

Among the billions of tons of cargo that cross this route, about 4.5 million barrels of oil pass each day originating in countries in the Middle East and Asia and destined for the West, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. Joined.

Additionally, 8% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments transited through this strait last year, making it a vital artery for global energy supply.

In fact, the incidents in Bab el Mandeb have immediate effects on the world prices of these vital resources.

Between Wednesday and this Friday, the barrel of Brent oil rose by 5% to exceed US$80, which experts attributed to the tensions in the Red Sea that forced many oil tankers to divert their route, with the consequent delay in deliveries and increased costs.

And, beyond crude oil and gas, the Mandeb Strait is part of the main route between East and West, with several dozen cargo ships passing through its waters every day.

Many of them also decided to divert their journeys between the Indian Ocean and the West via the much longer route around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa,

This adds thousands of kilometers to trips, increasing costs and delaying deliveries of vital components for the product and consumer goods manufacturing chain.

In recent weeks, the price of moving a container from East Asia to Northern Europe has practically tripled.

From accidents and pirates to missiles

It is not the first time that an incident in this area affects maritime traffic and generates important implications for world trade.

For example, in 2021 the Panama-flagged container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal, causing a blockage in the corridor and creating bottlenecks in global supply chains, with increased costs and delivery delays. of oil and products of all kinds.

Before, especially between 2008 and 2012, the Bab el Mandeb Strait and its surroundings were the scene of numerous attacks by pirates, mostly from Somalia, who kidnapped the crew of ships to demand money in exchange for their release, which which has already led the international community, as well as shipping companies, to reinforce security.

More than a decade later, the main threat in the strait comes from the opposite end, with attacks by Houthi rebels.

They have justified their attacks in the Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea as a response to Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

They assure that their offensives with drones and missiles target vessels from Israel or destined for this country.

However, in practice the attacks are affecting all types of ships that in most cases have no connection with Israel and are headed to other countries.

Click here to read more stories from BBC News World

Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate them so you don't miss our best content.