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Topic 278 · Geography & Places in News

Bab el-Mandeb and Houthi Red Sea strikes

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Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA

Core Trigger: The Houthis declared a Red Sea blockade on Saudi Arabia and, in late July 2026, struck Aramco facilities at Jizan and Yanbu.
Weapons Used: The attacks used missiles and drones and shut the Jizan refinery.
Key Strait: Bab el-Mandeb lies between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Chokepoint Rule: Bab el-Mandeb is a maritime chokepoint: a narrow strait through which a large share of world shipping must pass.
Targets: The Saudi Red Sea oil ports of Jizan (Jazan) and Yanbu, plus an Aramco facility in Jizan, were hit.
Stakeholders: The Houthis, Saudi Arabia and Aramco, the Saudi state oil company, are the key actors.
India Link: The strait carries much of India's trade with Europe; disruption raises freight, insurance and energy costs.
Venue: The strait separates Yemen (Arabian Peninsula) from Djibouti and Eritrea on the African side.
Gulf of Aden: The Gulf of Aden lies between Yemen and Somalia, with Djibouti at its western end.
Landmark: The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) guarantees transit passage through straits used for international navigation.
Articles: UNCLOS Part III, Articles 37 to 44, governs straits used for international navigation.
Doctrine: Transit passage means continuous, expeditious navigation through a strait that States bordering it may not suspend.

Question 1 of 10

Which group declared a Red Sea blockade on Saudi Arabia in 2026?

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Answer: (C) The Houthis

Core Trigger: The Houthis declared a Red Sea blockade on Saudi Arabia and, in late July 2026, struck Aramco facilities at Jizan and Yanbu.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 1

Question 2 of 10

In late July 2026 the attacks on Saudi facilities used which weapons?

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Answer: (D) Missiles and drones

Weapons Used: The attacks used missiles and drones and shut the Jizan refinery.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Bab el-Mandeb links which two water bodies?

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Answer: (A) Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Key Strait: Bab el-Mandeb lies between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 3

Question 4 of 10

A maritime chokepoint is best described as what?

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Answer: (D) Narrow strait carrying much of world shipping

Chokepoint Rule: Bab el-Mandeb is a maritime chokepoint: a narrow strait through which a large share of world shipping must pass.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 4

Question 5 of 10

Which two Saudi Red Sea oil ports were hit?

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Answer: (A) Jizan and Yanbu

Targets: The Saudi Red Sea oil ports of Jizan (Jazan) and Yanbu, plus an Aramco facility in Jizan, were hit.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 5

Question 6 of 10

Which is/are correct? 1. Aramco is the Saudi state oil company. 2. The strait carries much of India's trade with Europe.

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Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Stakeholders: The Houthis, Saudi Arabia and Aramco, the Saudi state oil company, are the key actors.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 6

Question 7 of 10

Bab el-Mandeb separates Yemen from which African states?

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Answer: (C) Djibouti and Eritrea

Venue: The strait separates Yemen (Arabian Peninsula) from Djibouti and Eritrea on the African side.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 8

Question 8 of 10

The Gulf of Aden lies between Yemen and which country?

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Answer: (D) Somalia

Gulf of Aden: The Gulf of Aden lies between Yemen and Somalia, with Djibouti at its western end.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 9

Question 9 of 10

The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea guarantees which right through international straits?

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Answer: (C) Transit passage

Landmark: The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) guarantees transit passage through straits used for international navigation.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 10

Question 10 of 10

Which is/are correct? 1. States bordering a strait may suspend transit passage. 2. UNCLOS Part III, Articles 37 to 44, governs straits used for international navigation.

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Answer: (B) Only 2

Articles: UNCLOS Part III, Articles 37 to 44, governs straits used for international navigation.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 278, point 11

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