How Netanyahu singlehandedly redrew the Red Sea map & shook Africa, the Gulf, the Middle East

What if one diplomatic move quietly rewired three regions at once? Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland isn’t just about Africa’s newest would-be state, it’s about control, timing, and pressure points in a world already on edge. Why would Israel pick a breakaway region no one else recognises? What does Somaliland offer that Gaza, Lebanon, or even the Gulf can’t? And why did this single announcement trigger outrage from Africa to the Middle East? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down how Somaliland’s geography, sitting at the mouth of the Red Sea, suddenly turns it into one of the most valuable pieces on the global chessboard. Just across the water lies Yemen, home to Iran-backed Houthis who have disrupted global shipping. Coincidence? Or strategy? We also examine the fallout: Somalia’s fury, Egypt and Turkey’s alarm, and why Iran may see this as Israel tightening the noose around its last active proxy. Is this about trade routes, military bases, intelligence, or all of the above?