Why is the Bab al-Mandab Strait so important?

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Why is the Bab al-Mandab Strait so important?Close

Thousands of refugees have fled Yemen in recent days after Iran-backed Houthis seized territory along the country's Red Sea coastline, including near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that began in 2014, when the Houthis ousted the government from the capital, Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015, after a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened in an attempt to restore the government's rule.

Now, following a Saudi request, the UK has said it will deploy a military aircraft to help refuel Saudi Arabian fighter jets taking part in "purely defensive" missions.

The BBC's Frank Gardner has this analysis.

Read more on the crisis in Yemen.

• Published7 hours ago

Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing

close panelYou are now following YemenUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.

close panelYou are now following Saudi ArabiaUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.

close panelYou are now following OilUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.

close panelYou are now following Yemen crisisUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.

close panelYou are now following Middle EastUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.Read description

Saudi ArabiaFollow Saudi Arabia

Yemen crisisFollow Yemen crisis

Middle EastFollow Middle East