Mandeb

Mandeb, also known as Bab el Mandeb (Arabic: باب المندب), is a strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, between Yemen on the north and Djibouti and Eritrea on the south. The name translates as “Gate of Tears.” The strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and, by extension, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Geography: The strait is about 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point and consists of several channels; Perim Island lies near the strait's approaches on the Yemeni side. The coastline forms two political regions: the Yemeni mainland to the north and the Djibouti/Eritrea shores to the south.

Significance: Mandeb is one of the world's major maritime chokepoints: thousands of ships pass through each year to move Red Sea trade through the Suez Canal. It is especially important for oil and energy shipments from the Persian Gulf to Europe and Asia. The strait's proximity to Yemen and the Horn of Africa makes it a focus of regional security concerns.

History and governance: The strait has been known to seafarers since antiquity as a gateway between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. In modern times it has been the subject of international naval operations and anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden area. Jurisdiction is shared among Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea, with international law governing freedom of navigation through international straits.