International RelationsSecurity
News 2 of 23

Houthi Blockade on Saudi Arabia Threatens Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Key Global Trade Chokepoint

Intl. RelationsSecurity & DefenceEnvironmentCORE
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
28 Jul 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Strait width ~30 km9.3 million barrels/day (2023)4.1 million barrels/day (2024)India imports >85% crude oilDiversion adds 10-15 days
Bodies:Houthi movementU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, targeting Saudi-linked vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

2.The Bab el-Mandeb is only 30 km wide at its narrowest point but forms the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

3.India imports over 85% of its crude oil, making stability in this chokepoint critical for energy security and trade competitiveness.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Yemen's Houthi movement has announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This 30-km wide chokepoint is the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, handling ~9.3 million barrels of oil daily before recent disruptions. The escalation, a response to an attack on Sanaa airport, directly impacts global trade, energy security, and India's crude oil imports (85%+ imported).

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Strait Width (Narrowest)~30 km
Oil Transit (2023)9.3 million barrels/day
Oil Transit (2024-25)~4.1-4.2 million barrels/day
India's Crude Oil Import>85%
Date of Blockade AnnouncementJuly 20, 2026

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Strait Width (Narrowest): ~30 km
  • ›Oil Transit (2023): 9.3 million barrels/day
  • ›Target this Data: Bab el-Mandeb Strait width ~30 km at narrowest point
  • ›Target this Data: 9.3 million barrels/day oil transit in 2023 (dropped to ~4.1 million in 2024)
  • ›Target this Data: India imports >85% of crude oil
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Houthi movement (Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group)

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is considered a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil trade?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Houthi blockade and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait:

1. The Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, 2026, targeting Saudi-linked vessels.

2. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is approximately 50 km wide at its narrowest point.

3. A diversion around the Cape of Good Hope typically adds 10 to 15 days to a voyage compared to transiting the Suez Canal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), how many barrels of crude oil and petroleum products transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait daily in 2023?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary reason the Houthi maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia is a significant concern for India?

All 25 MCQs ▸
Read original article from The Hindu
You finished this topic
Practice 3 MCQs from this newsNext Article
Explore Related Topics
Intl. RelationsView Topic MCQs →Security & DefenceView Topic MCQs →EnvironmentView Topic MCQs →
PreviousHouthi Red Sea Blockade Threatens Saudi Oil; India May Rely on Russian Crude at 2.6 Million bpdNext NTA Reorganisation: Radhakrishnan Panel Blueprint Targets 2027 CBT Mandate with 10 Functional Verticals
Related Current Affairs
Intl. Relations Current Affairs

Houthi Capture of Perim Island Threatens Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Saudi Oil Exports via Red Sea

Houthi forces, backed by Iran, have captured Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, especially after the Strait of Hormuz disruption. This move threatens Saudi Arabia's alternative Red Sea export route and could spike oil prices. Saudi airstrikes have retaliated, escalating the Yemen conflict.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

Houthi Capture of Mokha (60 km from Bab-el-Mandeb) Threatens Saudi Oil Routes, East-West Pipeline Shut

Houthi forces seized the strategic port of Mokha (60 km from Bab-el-Mandeb Strait) on September 11, 2026, threatening Saudi Arabia's oil transit via both the Red Sea and the East-West pipeline. This escalation in Yemen's civil war has direct implications for global energy security and Iran's proxy strategy, making it a critical case study for security and international relations exams.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

18th BRICS Summit, India-EU FTA, Houthi Seize Perim Island: UPSC Must-Know Topics

The 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi brings together 11 nations representing 36.8% of global GDP, with India balancing ties between West and East. Meanwhile, India-EU FTA nears completion (96% tariff elimination), and Houthi capture of Perim Island threatens Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint. Exam angles: BRICS dynamics, India's strategic autonomy, maritime security, and trade pacts.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

Iran rial hits record low at 2.02 million/USD as US prepares fresh sanctions and Strait of Hormuz blockade

Iran's rial plunged to a record low of 2.02 million per USD as the US announced new sanctions. The war with Israel and US naval blockade have devastated Iran's economy, while Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil supply. This is a critical geopolitical flashpoint with implications for India's energy security and global trade.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey Mecca Defence Pact Faces First Test After Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (signed Aug 7, 2026) between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey faces its first real test after Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia wounded 73. Pakistan's defence minister hinted at activation, but foreign ministry downplayed immediate military action. The pact's ambiguity and implications for India's oil security and Gulf diaspora make it a key exam topic.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

Houthis Seize Perim Island at Bab el-Mandeb Strait; Oil Prices Surge Above $100

Houthi capture of Perim Island threatens the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil and trade, especially after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed. This could spike oil prices above $100, impact India's energy security, and escalate the Iran-US proxy war via Yemen.

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

Houthi Missile Attack on Saudi Tanker Reduces Gulf Shipping Traffic to 3 Vessels in Key Straits

The Houthi attack on a Saudi oil tanker has drastically reduced shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, two critical chokepoints for global oil trade. This escalates tensions in the Gulf and could disrupt energy supplies, affecting India's oil imports. Exam relevance: Prelims (geography, current events) and Mains (security, energy security, India's foreign policy).

Intl. Relations Current Affairs

US-Denmark-Greenland Security Pact Allows Permanent US Basing, Bans Non-NATO Presence in Arctic

The US-Denmark-Greenland security pact, announced on September 18, gives the US permanent basing and overflight rights in Greenland and bars non-NATO nations from building bases or making sensitive investments without US approval. It resolves the NATO strain caused by Trump's annexation demand while preserving Danish/Greenland sovereignty, and remains valid even if Greenland becomes independent. This reshapes Arctic geopolitics amid Russia's military expansion and China's growing footprint.

Start Today's Quiz(25 Qs)
With Houthi blockade on Saudi…, Current Affairs for Exams