What is the ‘Gate of Tears’? Key shipping route that could be attacked by Houthis and disrupt global economy

NewsWorldMiddle EastWhat is the ‘Gate of Tears’? Key shipping route that could be attacked by Houthis and disrupt global economyThe Bab al-Mandab strait has been a vital shipping route for Saudi Arabia since the closure of the Strait of HormuzBryony Gooch & Harry CockburnMonday 13 April 2026 16:32 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"CF1:2949724To1","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-bab-al-mandab-strait-of-hormuz-saudi-houthis-b2956498.html","title":"What is the ‘Gate of Tears’? Key shipping route that could be attacked by Houthis"}}CloseYemen’s Houthi military spokesman claims responsibility for missile attack on IsraelOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_On_The_Ground_Newsletter","regTitle":"On The Ground","subscriptionGroup":"on_the_ground","subscriptionGroupId":"14806361-6435-4d19-b06e-05326605fb01","pathPrefix":["/news/world/europe","/news/world/middle-east","/news/world/australasia","/news/world/africa","/asia"],"associatedAuthors":["Bel Trew","Sam Kiley"],"title":"On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","mobileTitle":"Get a weekly international news dispatch","lengthenedMobileTitle":"Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/onTheGround1_1.png","newsletterKey":"receiveOnTheGround","regSourceSection":"Mid...