Archive · 25 Jul 2026
Bab el-Mandeb Blockade Begins Amid Rising Tensions
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a very important place for oil ships.
Some rebels called the Houthis have started blocking this strait, which is making oil prices go up.
This is happening at a bad time because there are already problems in another important oil area, the Hormuz corridor, because of tensions between the United States and Iran.
The Houthis are doing this to put pressure on Saudi Arabia and its friends.
Saudi Arabia and its friends are worried because this could make it harder for oil to get around the world, and that could make oil more expensive everywhere.
Right now, oil prices have gone up a lot, and this could cause more problems for the world's economy.
The Houthis have begun a blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical route for global oil trade.
The blockade has caused Brent crude oil prices to jump over 13%, breaching the $100 per barrel mark.
The timing is particularly fragile due to existing tensions in the Hormuz corridor between the United States and Iran.
Around 12% of total seaborne-traded oil passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, making the blockade a significant concern for global supply.
The Houthis' action is seen as a response to Saudi-led coalition actions in Yemen, aiming to pressure Saudi Arabia and its allies.
- Who
- Houthi Rebels, Saudi Arabia, United States, Iran
- What
- Blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- When
- Current, with escalating tensions
- Where
- Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- Why
- Houthi response to Saudi-led coalition actions in Yemen, aiming to pressure Saudi Arabia and its allies
Houthi Rebels
Saudi Arabia and Allies
Motivation for Blockade
Houthi Rebels
The Houthis claim the blockade is in response to Saudi-led coalition actions in Yemen, aiming to pressure Saudi Arabia and its allies.
Saudi Arabia and Allies
Saudi Arabia and its allies view the blockade as a hostile act that threatens regional stability and global oil supplies.
Impact on Oil Prices
Houthi Rebels
The Houthis may see the rise in oil prices as a means to gain leverage and draw international attention to their cause.
Saudi Arabia and Allies
Saudi Arabia and its allies are concerned about the economic impact of rising oil prices, which could affect global markets and their own economies.
- Location
- Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- Percentage of Global Oil Trade
- 12%
- Current Oil Price
- Over $100 per barrel (Brent crude)
- Oil Price in February
- $71 per barrel
- Involved Parties
- Houthi Rebels, Saudi Arabia, United States, Iran