# Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Live Map and Red Sea Status

Updated 10:28 UTC, 29 Oct 2026. Canonical: https://monitorworld.app/live/bab-el-mandeb

MonitorWorld's chokepoint model rates the Bab el-Mandeb **YELLOW (elevated risk)** with a disruption score of 40/100 as of 10:28 UTC; main driver: JWC Listed Area: active Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. The Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden; every ship between the Suez Canal and Asia must pass it. Since late 2023 Houthi attacks have pushed much of that traffic around Africa instead, and as of October 2026 the risk is high again: since July 2026 the Houthis have attacked tankers and declared a blockade of Saudi shipping here.

## Key numbers

- Status (our chokepoint model): **YELLOW**
- Disruption score: **40/100**
- Media reports, past 3 days: **4**
- Width at the narrowest point: **~29 km** (between Yemen and Djibouti)

## Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea news: latest reports

- [MEDIA] [The Mideast …. 10 / 26 / 2026 … Gulf Nations Talks … Jordan attacks Syrian armed groups …. Israeli Election …](https://politicaldog101.com/2026/10/the-mideast-10-26-2026-gulf-nations-talks-jordan-syria-armed-groups-attacks-israeli-election/) (politicaldog101.com, 05:15 UTC, 2d ago)
- [MEDIA] [Iran hosts Makkah Pact trio for rare talks](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2637105/iran-hosts-makkah-pact-trio-for-rare-talks) (tribune.com.pk, 05:15 UTC, 2d ago)
- [MEDIA] [Saudi Arabia offered Houthis $1 bn in Iran-brokered ceasefire deal: Israeli media](http://www.myanmarnews.net/news/279399157/saudi-arabia-offered-houthis-1-bn-in-iran-brokered-ceasefire-deal-israeli-media) (myanmarnews.net, 05:15 UTC, 2d ago)
- [MEDIA] [A quick guide to Israel high-stakes elections](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/news-from-npr/2026-10-26/a-quick-guide-to-israels-high-stakes-elections) (iowapublicradio.org, 05:15 UTC, 2d ago)

## Key context

### Why the Bab el-Mandeb matters

The name means "Gate of Lament" in Arabic. The strait lies between Yemen on the Arabian side and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African side, and Perim Island splits it into two channels. Together with the Suez Canal it forms the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia.

The US Energy Information Administration counted 8.7 million barrels per day of oil and products through the strait in 2023; from January to August 2024 the flow fell to 4.0 million as tankers and container ships diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10 to 14 days to a Europe-Asia voyage ([EIA](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=63446)). In 2026 the flow rose again, to about 8.1 million barrels per day in the second quarter, as the Iran war closed much of the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi crude was sent out through Yanbu on the Red Sea ([EIA, October 2026](https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/report/energysecurity/article.php)).

### Who threatens the route

Yemen's Houthi movement controls the Red Sea coast north of the strait, including the port of Hodeidah. Since November 2023 it has attacked merchant ships with missiles, drones and boats, saying it acts in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Naval missions from the EU (Aspides) and a US-led coalition escort and defend ships. In 2026 the threat grew: from July the Houthis attacked tankers and declared a blockade of Saudi shipping in the strait ([USNI News](https://news.usni.org/2026/07/30/report-to-congress-on-yemen-red-sea-security), 30 July 2026), and in September they said they took Mokha, the port closest to the strait on the Yemeni side ([Euronews](https://euronews.com/2026/09/10/houthis-seize-red-sea-port-city-in-push-to-seize-bab-el-mandeb)). See the [Yemen war map](https://monitorworld.app/live/yemen-war-map) for the fighting on land.

### All 13 chokepoints right now

| Chokepoint | Status | Score |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Suez Canal | YELLOW | 30 |
| Strait of Malacca | GREEN | 0 |
| Strait of Hormuz | RED | 70 |
| Bab el-Mandeb | YELLOW | 40 |
| Panama Canal | GREEN | 0 |
| Taiwan Strait | YELLOW | 20 |
| Cape of Good Hope | GREEN | 15 |
| Strait of Gibraltar | GREEN | 15 |
| Bosporus Strait | YELLOW | 30 |
| Korea Strait | GREEN | 0 |
| Dover Strait | GREEN | 15 |
| Kerch Strait | RED | 70 |
| Lombok Strait | GREEN | 0 |

## FAQ

### Is the Bab el-Mandeb open?

The strait is not formally closed, and some ships still pass. Our chokepoint model rates it YELLOW (elevated risk) today. Many large shipping lines have avoided it since 2023 because of attack risk and insurance costs, and the Houthis resumed attacks in 2026. The latest report on this page is from 05:15 UTC (politicaldog101.com).

### Why is the Bab el-Mandeb important?

It is the southern gate of the Red Sea. Ships between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean must pass it, so trouble here hits the Suez route, oil and gas deliveries to Europe and container freight rates worldwide.

### How wide is the Bab el-Mandeb?

About 29 km (18 miles) at its narrowest. Perim Island divides it; most large ships use the wider western channel, with separate lanes for each direction.

### Why do ships avoid the Red Sea?

Because of Houthi missile, drone and boat attacks since November 2023, which hit dozens of ships and sank several, and which resumed in 2026 after a pause. War-risk insurance for the route rose sharply, so many owners send ships around the Cape of Good Hope instead.

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## Sources

- [MonitorWorld chokepoint model](https://monitorworld.app/sources): status (green / yellow / red) and a 0-100 disruption score from a threat baseline, navigational warnings and AIS disruption signals. A risk rating, not an official notice.
- [The GDELT Project (DOC 2.0 API)](https://www.gdeltproject.org/): media reports, matched by keyword. Headlines link to the publisher; MonitorWorld does not verify them.
- [MonitorWorld news digest](https://monitorworld.app/sources): headlines from public news feeds (Reuters, AP, BBC, Al Jazeera and others), severity rated by our model. Each headline links to the publisher.
- [UCDP Candidate Events Dataset](https://ucdp.uu.se/): Uppsala Conflict Data Program, CC BY 4.0. Candidate (preliminary) events to 30 Sep 2026, not live. Fatalities are UCDP best / low / high estimates.
- [U.S. Energy Information Administration](https://www.eia.gov/international/analysis/special-topics/World_Oil_Transit_Chokepoints): oil flow and bypass pipeline figures for the Strait of Hormuz.

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- [Strait of Hormuz map](https://monitorworld.app/live/strait-of-hormuz): Chokepoint status, media reports and key facts.
- [Suez Canal live](https://monitorworld.app/live/suez-canal): Canal status, the Red Sea diversion and shipping news.
- [Panama Canal live](https://monitorworld.app/live/panama-canal): Transit limits, water levels and shipping news.
- [Taiwan Strait map](https://monitorworld.app/live/taiwan-strait): China drills, delayed military aircraft and news.
- [Live war map](https://monitorworld.app/live): Every layer on one map: conflicts, aircraft, quakes, chokepoints.
- [Current wars](https://monitorworld.app/current-wars): Every country with recorded armed-conflict events, with UCDP estimates.