Tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East as Iranian-backed proxies step up their assaults on U.S. forces. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian issued a foreboding caution, expressing concerns that the ongoing conflict in Gaza could ignite a larger, uncontrollable chain of events involving Lebanon, Yemen, and potentially more countries. He highlighted the frequent alerts received from the U.S. regarding targeted attacks on American bases in Syria and Iraq by various groups.
This warning follows the recent U.S. veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution advocating for an immediate cease-fire. U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Robert A. Wood labeled the call for an unconditional cease-fire as “dangerous,” emphasizing its potential catastrophic impact on Israel, Palestine, and the wider region. Meanwhile, the U.K. abstained from voting, reflecting the complexity and divergence of opinions within the Council.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres intervened by invoking Article 99 of the organization’s charter, expressing grave concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the escalating intensity of fighting. Amirabdollahian, instead of addressing these concerns, accused the U.S. of fueling the conflict through unwavering support for Israel, framing attacks on U.S. troops by Iran-backed proxies like the Houthis and Hezbollah as a defense of Arab and Muslim populations in Gaza.
These militant groups have conducted a worrying total of 90 attacks on U.S. bases and troops in the Middle East since October 17, along with multiple assaults on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, including the recent hijacking of a cargo ship. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iraqi militants, claimed responsibility for the latest strikes on the Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq and the Al-Shaddadi Patrol Base in Syria.
While Lebanon’s Hezbollah is acknowledged as Iran’s potent proxy in the region, Iraqi militias have played a more restrained role in the conflict thus far. Approximately 2,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq as part of an agreement with Baghdad, aimed at countering the activities of the Islamic State group, which continues to operate within the country.
Some Republican lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to reconsider classifying the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization. This designation was imposed by the Trump administration but rescinded by Biden due to concerns about its potential dire impact on Yemeni civilians’ access to essential commodities like food and fuel, as emphasized by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The situation remains precarious, with a complex web of geopolitical, humanitarian, and security concerns intertwining in the region.
