Zeitgeist

Closing Bab Al Mandeb: Chokepoints and Proxies

How Iranian strategy, Houthi power in Yemen, and the economics of maritime chokepoints combine to put Red Sea shipping and global oil transit at risk.

6 booksJuly 17, 2026

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Iran threatens to close Bab al-Mandab Straitmiddleeastmonitor.com Iran’s Allies Could Target Bab al-Mandeb If U.S. Strikes Iranian Power...forbes.com

Part of 710+ tracked lists

1. Yemen in Crisis
Helen Lackner
Helen Lackner's Yemen-focused analysis explains the domestic drivers and Houthi capabilities needed to assess threats...
Shelf signal: Middle Eastern History
2. Tribes and Politics in Yemen
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3. Iran's Rise and Rivalry With the US in the Middle East
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Mohsen Milani traces Iran's expansion of influence across the region, explaining Tehran's incentives to use proxies...
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4. Chokepoints
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5. The New Map
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Daniel Yergin's The New Map situates energy geopolitics and how shifts in oil routes and politics reshape global...
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6. The Shadow Commander
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The Shadow Commander offers insight into IRGC strategy and the operational role of Iranian commanders that inform proxy...
Shelf signal: Iranian History
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