Houthi Rebels Tighten Grip on Bab el-Mandeb Strait... Middle East Faces 'Dual Chokepoint' Crisis

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are rapidly advancing along the Red Sea coast near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, shaking up the dynamics of conflicts in the Middle East.

Reuters Yonhap News

According to foreign media outlets such as Bloomberg and the Financial Times (FT), on September 10 (local time), the Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni port city of Mocha, which is located at the southern end of the Red Sea.

The Houthi rebels had already taken control of areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the Port of Hodeidah, and in recent years have affected Red Sea shipping and the oil market. With the capture of Mocha, they have now secured another key port in the area. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is considered a crucial section of the maritime route connecting Europe and Asia.

With the Bab el-Mandeb Strait now at risk alongside the Strait of Hormuz, analysts say the reality of a "dual chokepoint" crisis is emerging, in which both of the Middle East’s critical maritime bottlenecks face simultaneous threats. This is increasing pressure on global energy supply chains. The Red Sea shipping lane passing through the Suez Canal accounts for about 12% of global trade, making it one of the world’s key routes. Before the conflict, about one-fifth of global daily oil consumption passed through the Strait of Hormuz. If disruptions occur in both straits at the same time, capacity for rerouting shipments is limited, which could drive up shipping and insurance costs and place significant strain on the global energy supply.

Bjorn Bairens, a maritime security expert, told Bloomberg that the Houthis' capture of Mocha “could have a significant impact on regional maritime security,” adding, “With Mocha as a foothold, the Houthis may expand further south and seek to fully control the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.”

In particular, a further increase in Houthi influence over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is expected to deal a major blow to Saudi Arabia. While Saudi Arabia has exported much of the oil produced in its eastern fields along the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, disruptions caused by the war have prompted the country to actively utilize western export routes such as the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

Ahmed Nagi, a Yemen expert at the International Crisis Group, told the FT, “The Houthis have been preparing for this battle for a long time,” describing the coastal front as “the most strategically important frontline” for the group. He analyzed, “By controlling the coast, the Houthis can not only press their demands on Saudi Arabia, but also bolster the position of their sponsor, Iran.”

The increased burden could also extend to the United States. With existing tensions against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, a Houthi threat to Bab el-Mandeb would force the U.S. to address security challenges at both of the Middle East’s maritime chokepoints at the same time. This is especially politically sensitive for U.S. President Donald Trump, with international oil prices rising as the November midterm elections approach.

On this day, Brent crude surged 6.3% from the previous session, closing at $107.63 per barrel, as concerns over Middle Eastern oil supply disruptions grew. At one point during trading, it topped $108. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also rose 6.69% to end at $102.48 per barrel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.