News: Houthi forces reportedly seized territory along Yemen’s western/Red Sea coast, strengthening their position near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major global maritime chokepoint.

Geographical Location

• Red Sea → semi-enclosed sea between Africa + Arabian Peninsula (Asia).
• South → Bab el-Mandeb → Gulf of Aden → Arabian Sea → Indian Ocean.
• North → divided by Sinai Peninsula into:
  • Gulf of Suez → Suez Canal → Mediterranean Sea
  • Gulf of Aqaba
• Geographical sequence:

Mediterranean Sea → Suez Canal → Gulf of Suez → Red Sea → Bab el-Mandeb → Gulf of Aden → Arabian Sea → Indian Ocean

Strategic Importance

• Major Europe–Asia maritime trade route.
• Suez Canal provides a shorter route than sailing around the Cape of Good Hope.
• Bab el-Mandeb → critical chokepoint for ships entering/exiting the Red Sea.
• Houthi control along Yemen’s coast → potential implications for shipping + regional security + global trade.

Countries bordering Red Sea

• Africa: Egypt + Sudan + Eritrea + Djibouti
• Asia: Saudi Arabia + Yemen

Physical Features

• Hot + highly saline waters.
• High evaporation + limited freshwater input → high salinity.
• Reddish/brown appearance can occur due to algal blooms.

Resources

• Petroleum + evaporites + sulfur + phosphates + heavy-metal deposits.

Important Islands

• Tiran Island → near Gulf of Aqaba.
• Shadwan Island → entrance of Gulf of Suez.