The conflict in the Middle East has widened, as two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude headed to Asia turned around in the Red Sea on Tuesday. This development follows an announcement by Yemen’s Houthis declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. The resulting closure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, has intensified pressure on global trade routes, compounding existing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
US Military Strikes on Iran
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that at 00:15 GMT on Wednesday, it concluded its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran. According to the CENTCOM statement, the operation targeted Iranian military operations centres, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure. The command stated these actions were taken to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM further claimed that over the past three months, Iran had attacked more than 30 commercial vessels traversing the Strait.
The strikes occurred across multiple regions of Iran. The deputy governor of the southwestern Khuzestan province informed the Fars news agency that U.S. missile attacks targeted areas near the cities of Behbahan and Omidiyeh. Fars also reported that U.S. forces attacked a military site on the outskirts of Tabriz in northwestern Iran. Al Jazeera’s Tohid Assidi, reporting from Tehran, noted that explosions were heard in Tabriz, while air defences were activated in the capital. Assidi further reported that two blasts were heard in Bushehr. Additionally, Iran’s IRIB state broadcaster reported that the deputy governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province confirmed attacks on the southeastern cities of Chabahar and Konarak.
For more on this story, see Yemen Houthi Rebels Declare Naval Blockade Against Saudi Arabia.
Regional Strategic Implications
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, known in Arabic as the “Gate of Tears” or “Gate of Grief,” is a critical maritime passage located between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. It serves as the southern gateway to the Suez Canal and facilitates a significant portion of global maritime trade, including a significant share of the world’s energy shipments. Mohammed al-Farah, a member of the political bureau of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, stated that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz could be closed in an operational alliance
if Saudi Arabia continues to target Yemen’s critical infrastructure.
This follows our earlier report, Houthis Declare Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia Threatening Oil Supplies.
If the current situation aggravates, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz will be closed in an operational alliance. Oil prices would then skyrocket to $200 a barrel in a dreadful shock,
al-Farah was quoted as saying by Press TV on Monday.
The potential closure of these routes carries severe implications for regional economies, particularly India. India relies on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to import crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from parts of West Asia and North Africa. Furthermore, Indian refiners utilize the route to export processed petroleum products to European buyers. Together, the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait facilitate nearly 35% of India’s total foreign trade, including bulk exports such as textiles, garments, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.
Read also: Egypt Reopens Communication Channels With Houthis to Protect Suez Canal Trade.
As the conflict persists, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned of targeting other export corridors,
while Houthi rebels vowed to close it. The combined impact of the US-led strikes and the blockade of these chokepoints has heightened fears of a broader global energy and trade crisis.
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