The Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow maritime strait, a geographical chokepoint, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, which is an extension of the Indian Ocean. The name, meaning "Gate of Tears" or "Gate of Grief" in Arabic, refers to the historical perils of navigating the waterway. Geographically, it is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and the African nations of Djibouti and Eritrea. The strait is approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point, where Perim (Mayyun) Island divides it into two shipping channels.
The strait's global significance dramatically increased after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which transformed it into a critical gateway for the preferred shipping route between Europe and Asia. This mechanism links the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, allowing vessels to bypass the long route around Africa. Today, the Bab el-Mandeb is a vital artery for global trade, with approximately 10-12% of the world's seaborne trade, including containerized goods and an estimated 8.8 million barrels of oil per day, passing through it.
The strait is closely connected to other major maritime chokepoints like the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, and its closure would force ships to divert around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times and increasing costs. Recently, the strait has become a global flashpoint due to attacks on commercial vessels by Yemen-based Houthi forces starting in late 2023. These security incidents caused traffic through the strait to fall sharply, forcing shipping companies to reroute and demonstrating how localized instability can quickly impact global supply chains.