US is 'pushing Middle East conflict into new realm' for key reason, expert says
The United States and President Joe Biden are pushing conflict in the Middle East "into new realms that it doesn't need to go," an expert has warned.
This comes as three American personnel were killed in a drone strike orchestrated by Iranian-backed militia.
President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. “shall respond” after three American troops were killed and dozens more were injured in an overnight drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. This is just the latest escalation in the proxy war unfolding in the region.
READ MORE: Inside horror Jordan drone attack that killed 3 US troops in 'very deliberate escalation'
Armed supporters of Yemen's Huthi rebels attend a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas movement's armed resistance against Israel (AFP via Getty Images)Dr Andreas Krieg, Senior Lecturer School of Security Studies at KCL and Fellow at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, spoke to The Mirror about the ever esclating conflict. He said that the tensions are rooted in the ongoing war in Gaza: “It's all part of the same conflict. We have to be very clear, that what is happening across the region is directly connected to what's happening in Gaza.
Jake Paul calls on John Fury to make retirement bet for fight with son Tommy
"The efforts of the Americans and the Israelis to disassociate these activities from the war in Gaza is misleading. Because all of it is connected to Gaza. And I'm convinced once we see a deescalation in Gaza and once the US actually puts pressure on Israel to bring the war to an end or at least lessen its intensity, then the Iranian proxies in Iraq will de-escalate."
An expert has warned the US's actions is pushing the Middle Eastern conflict into a new realm (AFP via Getty Images)He also highlighted how the US could dampen the touchpaper. Dr Krieg said: "It's the easiest way to de-escalate. But Biden hasn't done it. It's going to be a stain on the reputation of the US going forward, but it's pushing this conflict into new realms that it doesn't need to go. As Iran acts, the Americans are taking the bait every time rather than addressing the root cause of it which is Gaza. “
Biden blamed Iran-backed militias and Dr Krieg said the strike was likely 'greenlit' by Iran. He explained: "Operating across the region is a network of different militia. Each with their own connection to Iran to varying degrees. There are some that are even staffed by Iranians. This is network centric warfare. Teams work in a varying degree of autonomy, and use the equipment provided by Iran.
The Houthis have vowed to keep up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the aim of ending the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, and in response to US-led retaliatory strikes"It's a horizontally integrated network. So these actors have a large degree of autonomy. Like Hezbollah for example, they almost have a relationship on par. But using high end technology, particular drones against high value targets would require Iranian knowledge and authorisation. It was at least greenlit."
Until Israel reigns itself in, the conflict in the region has every chance to intensify. Dr Krieg said: “What we're seeing now is a gradual escalation into unknown territory. Each side is trying to push further and further to see how the other side is reacting. It risks overreaction.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
