Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Bab el-Mandeb Strait: key chokepoint linking Red Sea to Indian Ocean gains focus amid West Asia tensions; vital for global trade and oil routes via Suez Canal.

Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Table of Contents

Bab el-Mandeb Strait Latest News

As the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran deepens, attention is now shifting southwards to another narrow stretch of water, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

About Bab el-Mandeb Strait

  • It is also known as the “Gate of Tears” in Arabic, referring to the large number of shipwrecks that have occurred in this region. 
  • Location: It lies at the southern tip of the Red Sea, between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and further to the Indian Ocean.
  • It also separates Arabia, in the northeast, from the African continent, in the southwest.
  • It further acts as a link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
    • The strait is 30 kilometers (KM) wide and is divided into two channels by the Yemeni island of Perim, with the eastern channel being called Alexander’s Strait, while the western-lying Dact-el-Mayun Channel.
  • Significance: It is a crucial link in the trade route connecting the Mediterranean to Asia. 
    • Ships transporting goods between Europe and Asia, as well as Middle Eastern oil bound for Europe and North America, pass through it when using Egypt’s Suez Canal.

Source: IE

Update Icon
Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

Date IconLast updated on April, 2026

UPSC Final Result 2025 is now out.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

Anuj Agnihotri secured AIR 1 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2025.

UPSC Marksheet 2025 is now out.

UPSC Notification 2026 & UPSC IFoS Notification 2026 is now out on the official website at upsconline.nic.in.

UPSC Calendar 2026 has been released.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.

→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.

→ Prepare effectively with Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Prelims Test Series 2026 featuring full-length mock tests, detailed solutions, and performance analysis.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2026 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Best UPSC Mentorship Program for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

Shakti Dubey secures AIR 1 in UPSC CSE Exam 2024.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Bab el-Mandeb Strait FAQ's

Q1. Which two bodies of water does the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connect?+

Q2. Why is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait strategically important?+

Tags: bab el-mandeb strait prelims current affairs prelims pointer

Vajiram Content Team
Vajiram Content Team
UPSC GS Course 2026
UPSC GS Course 2026
₹1,75,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹85000
Enroll Now
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
₹19000
Enroll Now
Prelims Powerup Test Series
Prelims Powerup Test Series
₹8500
Enroll Now
Enquire Now