We’re running out of ways to get oil out of the Middle East

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital trade route linking the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean. | Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2026 There was a backup plan for getting oil out of the Middle East. We may need another one. Key takeaways After staying relatively quiet for much of the Iran war, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a major escalation last last week by carrying out attacks on Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure, threatening a…