Houthi Shut Bab El-Mandeb BREAKING: Iran, Proxies Choke off Hormuz, Bab El-Mandeb Oil Supply Routes

[00:00:04]The Middle [music] East's energy lifelines are under unprecedented military confrontation. After months of escalating military confrontation, Iran and its regional allies are now threatening the world's two most critical oil choke points at the same time, [music] raising fears of a global energy crisis unlike anything seen in years.

[00:00:26]The latest flashpoint came [music] after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, [music] warning that it would immediately impose what it called a maritime embargo under an eye for [music] an eye strategy.

[00:00:43]The Saudi-led coalition responded with a warning of its own, declaring it would answer any attempt to disrupt shipping with a firm military response.

[00:00:53]At the center of this growing crisis lies the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea.

[00:01:00]If shipping through Bab el-Mandeb is seriously disrupted, Saudi oil exports to Asia could be severely affected.

[00:01:08]According to shipping data, around 7.4 billion barrels of petroleum per day transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in June, roughly 7% of global oil production. The threat comes just months after Iran disrupted shipping through another vital energy artery, the Strait of Hormuz. Following US and Israeli military operations against Iran earlier this year, Tehran [music] tightened its control over Hormuz, disrupting Gulf exports and sending global oil prices sharply higher.

[00:01:42]That forced Saudi Arabia to rapidly shift its export strategy. Instead of relying on Hormuz, Riyadh diverted more than 70% of its crude exports to the Red [music] Sea port of Yanbu.

[00:01:55]Oil destined for Europe traveled through the Suez Canal, while cargoes heading for Asia sailed south through Bab el-Mandeb. The strategy temporarily protected global supplies. Shipments from Yanbu surged to around [music] 4 million barrels per day, compared with less than 1 million a year earlier.

[00:02:15]But now, with the Houthis threatening Bab el-Mandeb, that alternative route itself is under pressure.

[00:02:22]If both Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb become unsafe [music] simultaneously, two of the world's most important energy corridors could effectively be compromised at the same time. That would leave global oil markets with very few alternatives.

[00:02:38]The Houthis are no strangers to maritime warfare. Following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the group launched repeated missile, drone, and naval attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea, [music] saying they were acting in support of Palestinians. Those attacks forced major global shipping companies, including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, [music] to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of kilometers to shipping routes and significantly [music] increasing transport costs. Traffic through the Suez Canal collapsed.

[00:03:10][music] Official figures show Red Sea shipping remains well below pre-crisis levels, with canal traffic still dramatically reduced compared with before the attacks.

[00:03:21]The United States responded by leading a multinational naval operation aimed at protecting commercial [music] shipping.

[00:03:28]Coalition forces intercepted hundreds of drones and missiles while conducting repeated strikes against Houthi military infrastructure. Despite those operations, attacks [music] continued until a temporary ceasefire linked to the Gaza conflict eased [music] tensions. Now, the threat has returned.

[00:03:47]The Houthis insist their [music] latest blockade is retaliation against what they describe as a Saudi siege and recent military actions inside Yemen.

[00:03:57]But analysts say the timing also reflects Iran's [music] broader regional strategy. Tehran considers the Houthis part of its so-called axis [music] of resistance alongside Hezbollah and allied Iraqi armed groups.

[00:04:10]While the Houthis maintain they make independent military decisions, the United States says Iran has armed, trained, and financed [music] the movement for years. Iran denies directing Houthi operations.

[00:04:24]Meanwhile, senior Iranian commanders have repeatedly warned that the Red Sea could become another battlefield if pressure on Tehran continues. With Hormuz already under strain and Bab el-Mandeb now facing fresh threats, global energy markets are entering [music] dangerous territory. Any prolonged disruption could push oil prices higher, disrupt international trade, increase shipping insurance costs, [music] and fuel inflation across the world. For now, the world's oil supply lines remain open, but they have rarely looked more vulnerable.

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