Report: "Another chokepoint. Iran eyes new leverage as Yemen fires missile at Israel"
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have entered the war in support of Iran & could threaten a second major waterway - the Suez Canal.
The Houthis have significant power. They could "shut down the Bab al-Mandab Strait - thereby shutting down access to the Red Sea & ultimately the Suez Canal."
~Mohamad Elmasry
#UK weeks away from #medicine #shortages if #Iran war continues
It’s the perfect storm. We have the conflict in the Gulf that caused the strait of #Hormuz to shut down, and #India is known as the #pharmacy of the world. They produce a lot of the generic [off-patent] drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients
With the geopolitical situation, it’s harder and harder to get those out
#medication #USAggression #war #Trump #airports #ships #transport
Agi: Iran, dopo Hormuz occhi puntati su Bab el-Mandeb
AGI - La chiusura dello Stretto di Bab al-Mandab è "tra le opzioni" delle azioni che gli Houthi intendono attuare a sostegno dell'Iran. Altro snodo strategico delle rotte del commercio mondiale, come lo Stretto di Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb collega il Mar Rosso con il golfo di Aden e quindi con l'Oceano Indiano.
Con una lunghezza di circa 50 km e una larghezza di 26 km nel punto più stretto, è uno dei colli di bottiglia del traffico marittimo più delicati al mondo. Situato tra lo Yemen e il Corno d'Africa si tratta di una rotta di fondamentale importanza: circa il 12% del commercio mondiale di petrolio via mare transita annualmente attraverso questo Stretto. Se l'instabilità si propagasse anche in quest'area, le ripercussioni potrebbero estendersi ai mercati energetici globali.
Il significato del nome e il ruolo storico
Il nome dello Stretto, traducibile come "Porta delle Lacrime", allude non troppo velatamente alle minacce da sempre connesse al passaggio attraverso le sue acque. Bab el-Mandeb ha svolto un ruolo cruciale come punto di collegamento tra l'Africa e la penisola arabica. Era incluso nelle antiche rotte commerciali tra Asia, Africa ed Europa. La Compagnia britannica delle Indie Orientali controllava le isole adiacenti nel XIX secolo per stabilire rotte marittime verso il Canale di Suez.
L'impatto sul commercio globale
Bab el-Mandeb rappresenta anche un'importante via di transito per le merci tra il Continente asiatico, l'Europa e il Mediterraneo. Qualora il passaggio venisse limitato o bloccato, le navi sarebbero costrette a circumnavigare l'estremità meridionale dell'Africa, il che aumenterebbe la distanza di migliaia di chilometri, i tempi di viaggio di diversi giorni e di conseguenza i prezzi.
Connessione con Suez e rischio di shock
Lo Stretto funge da ingresso meridionale al Canale di Suez. Qualsiasi nave che si sposti tra l'Asia e l'Europa attraverso il Mar Rosso è destinata a passare per Bab el-Mandeb prima di immettersi nel Canale. Con la chiusura di fatto dello Stretto di Hormuz - dove passava il 20% delle spedizioni mondiali di petrolio - un eventuale blocco in contemporanea anche di questa rotta causerebbe uno dei peggiori shock di approvvigionamento degli ultimi decenni.
Iran, after Hormuz, eyes fixed on Bab el-Mandeb.
AGI - The closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait is “among the options” of actions the Houthis intend to take to support Iran. Another strategic hub of global trade routes, such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and therefore with the Indian Ocean.
With a length of approximately 50 km and a width of 26 km at its narrowest point, it is one of the world’s most critical bottlenecks for maritime traffic. Located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, it is a vital route: around 12% of global maritime oil trade passes through this Strait annually. If instability were to spread to this area, the repercussions could extend to global energy markets.
The meaning of the name and historical role
The name of the Strait, translatable as “Gate of Tears,” alludes not too subtly to the threats historically associated with passage through its waters. Bab el-Mandeb has played a crucial role as a link between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It was included in ancient trade routes between Asia, Africa, and Europe. The British East India Company controlled the adjacent islands in the 19th century to establish maritime routes to the Suez Canal.
The impact on global trade
Bab el-Mandeb also represents an important transit route for goods between Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. If passage were to be limited or blocked, ships would be forced to circumnavigate the southern end of Africa, which would increase the distance by thousands of kilometers, travel times of several days, and consequently, prices.
Connection with Suez and risk of shock
The Strait serves as the southern entrance to the Suez Canal. Any ship traveling between Asia and Europe via the Red Sea is destined to pass through Bab el-Mandeb before entering the Canal. With the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz – where 20% of global oil shipments passed – a simultaneous blockade of this route would cause one of the worst supply shocks in recent decades.
#Hormuz #Babel-Mandeb #Houthis #theStraitofHormuz #theRedSea #theGulfofAden #theIndianOcean #approximately50km #Yemen #theHornofAfrica #around12% #Strait #GateofTears #Africa #theArabianPeninsula #Europe #theSuezCanal #Mediterranean
https://www.agi.it/estero/news/2026-03-28/iran-stretto-bab-mandab-36334961/
“If the strait doesn’t open in a week or two, many people, including my friends, will lose their jobs,” Mehrdad says.
Iran’s closure of the narrow chokepoint — the Strait of #Hormuz — has sent governments globally scrambling to contain the fallout.
Want to find out how the Strait of #Hormuz crisis affects regular businesses? Check out the link.
But now Mehrdad* is looking for a side hustle.
After the Strait of #Hormuz closed, his company’s operations were hit dramatically and now Mehrdad* is looking for a side hustle.
Report: Iran has agreed to a UN taskforce helping safe passage of humanitarian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The focus is to assist "ships carrying fertilisers & related raw materials to help prevent a humanitarian crisis in the ME, Africa, Asia & beyond."
Hänzi Pōtter
DrALJONES
Eatgrueldog
Mark
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