Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Details of military control and gains in international navigation and the Suez Canal
Search indicators have recorded a wide and accelerating interest in the developments of Bab el-Mandeb Strait, amid successive announcements of decisive military movements that resulted in regaining control and securing the strategic waterway and the island of Mayyun.
This shift is a turning point that redraws the maritime security landscape in the Red Sea, directly reflecting on the stability of global trade routes and the movement of ships heading to the Suez Canal and various regional ports.
Developments in control over Bab el-Mandeb and Mayyun Island
Military and field sources reported the advancement of the Yemeni armed forces and the restoration of their grip on the coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the strategic island of Mayyun.
The announced developments included:
The announcement of the Yemeni army regaining field control over the strait and securing the commanding heights.
Confirmation of measures aimed at clearing the vicinity of the waterway from Houthi militants to ensure the safe passage of ships.
Launching field pressure operations and pursuit to secure navigation lines and prevent any targeting of oil tankers and commercial cargo ships.
Where is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait located? (Location and geographical dimensions)
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is located in a unique geopolitical position linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, separating the continents of Asia and Africa:
The overseeing countries: Yemen overlooks the waterway on the Asian side, while Djibouti and Eritrea overlook it on the African side.
Width of the strait: Its total width is approximately 30 kilometers, divided by Mayun Island (Perim) into two passages; the small eastern passage and the deeper western passage suitable for the transit of giant oil tankers.
Length and depth of the passage: It extends over a length of about 32 kilometers, with the depth of the navigation channels allowing the passage of the largest commercial container ships in the world.
Comparison Table: Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Hormuz Strait
| Point of comparison | Bab el-Mandeb Strait | Hormuz Strait PNG |
| Water bodies | Links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean | Links the Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea |
| Strategic nature | A commercial transit artery towards the Suez Canal and Europe | The main oil and gas export artery from the Gulf |
| Countries governing the passage | Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea | Oman, Iran |
| Impact on Egypt | A direct and vital link to Suez Canal revenues and traffic | Indirect impact through global energy markets |
Egypt's gains and the stability of navigation in the Suez Canal
Securing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait represents a fundamental pillar for Egyptian national and economic security; as the safety of transit in this passage is the mandatory entry point for the flow of ships coming from Asia heading north through the Suez Canal:
Reducing shipping and insurance costs: The imposition of stability contributes to reducing additional risk fees and insurance premiums imposed on tankers.
Return of shortened navigation routes: The end of threats encourages global shipping companies to retreat from the long route around the Cape of Good Hope and return to quick transit through the Red Sea.
Recovery of transit revenues: Regular navigation restores transit fee flows in the Suez Canal to their targeted normal rates.
Who controls the Bab el-Mandeb Strait now?
The practical control of the strait overlaps between the regional sovereignty of the bordering countries and the field presence; where the legitimate Yemeni forces, supported by the coalition, monitor and secure the coasts and key islands in its territorial waters, in coordination with the patrols of international maritime security alliances deployed to ensure freedom of navigation and the safety of global trade under international maritime law.
Public opinion interaction and geographical search indicators
Follow-up data showed a notable concentration in search operations across the provinces and areas adjacent to and near the Red Sea, particularly in the regions of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Najran, to monitor immediate security developments and understand the dimensions of the new field situation and its political and military impacts on the region.