Yemen's Gate of Tears chokepoint intensifies regional power contest

The Bab al‑Mandeb strait, called the "Porta delle Lacrime" (Gate of Tears), sits at the southern mouth of the Red Sea. Its control determines maritime traffic between Europe, the Indian Ocean and East Africa, making it a strategic prize in the Yemen war.

The Houthi movement, a Zaydi Shia group backed by Iran, seeks autonomy in northern Yemen and uses the strait to challenge the Saudi‑led coalition and U.S. naval presence. Saudi Arabia, the United States and Oman also have stakes, as the chokepoint influences oil shipments and regional security. Analysts say a unified Yemeni state is unlikely; further fragmentation into regional zones is probable.