In the early hours of the 17th, Iran's Revolutionary Guard posted on social media revealing that a Resistance Front commander has issued a stern and unprecedented warning to all commercial and military vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The warning states: "Starting noon tomorrow, anyone intending to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait needs to be more vigilant than ever before."
The message stated that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is entering a new phase of military tension.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, serving as a choke point linking the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Oceans. It is known as the "water corridor" connecting the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in the first half of 2025, more than 4 million barrels of crude oil and refined products are expected to transit the strait daily, accounting for about 5.3% of global maritime oil trade volume.