Commercial shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait increased modestly, although the security environment remained volatile, an industry tracker reported.The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), in its Update 111 Advisory Note dated November 5, 2026, distributed by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), reported one suspicious-activity incident in the southern Red Sea, identified as MSCIO 168/26, but no confirmed attack against a merchant vessel.Tracking data showed an average of approximately 34 commercial transits daily from November 1 to 4, compared with around 28 per day in the preceding week, even as Iran-linked attacks have stepped up around the Strait of Hormuz.
