Israel strikes Iran allies/ Middle East power shift/ U.S. support Israel/ Axis of Resistance/ Iran regional influence/ Newslooks/ Washington/ Morning Edition/ With U.S. support, Israel’s military campaign targets Iran’s allies across the Middle East, impacting Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. These strikes shift the power balance in the region, sparking debate over future stability. While Israel’s actions could diminish Iran’s influence, critics worry about potential consequences, including escalation with Iran and the possibility of a broader regional conflict.
Israeli Strikes and U.S. Support Reshape Middle East Power: Quick Looks
- Military Strikes: Israel targets Iranian allies Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis, impacting regional power dynamics.
- Iran’s Influence Challenged: Israel’s campaign against Iran’s proxies could weaken Iran’s hold in the Middle East.
- U.S. Position: Washington continues military aid to Israel but calls for restraint and cease-fire negotiations.
- Critics’ Warnings: Experts caution about unintended consequences, drawing parallels with the 2003 Iraq invasion.
- Long-Term Impact: The conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain, with risks of escalating into wider regional war.
U.S. Backs Israel’s Strikes on Iran Allies, Shifting Middle East Power Balance
Deep Look
As tensions rise in the Middle East, Israel has intensified its military operations across the region, targeting Iranian allies and potentially transforming the balance of power in a decades-long geopolitical struggle. Backed by U.S. support, Israel’s strikes have hit Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza. While the offensive appears to be weakening Iran’s influence, some experts warn that the complex conflict could yield unforeseen consequences, echoing lessons from the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
U.S.-Supported Israeli Strikes Across the Middle East
Israeli airstrikes and intelligence operations are methodically targeting Iran-backed groups, aiming to reduce Iran’s influence across the region. Israel’s strikes have weakened Hezbollah’s leadership and arsenal, disrupted Houthi oil infrastructure, and decimated much of Hamas’s leadership in Gaza. Observers note that these moves could break Iran’s grip on its “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Hezbollah, Hamas, and other allied forces across Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
In Washington, there is support among some U.S. policymakers for Israel’s actions, with influential voices urging an end to Iran’s regional influence. Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said that Washington should back Israel “until Iran follows other dictatorships of the past into the dustbin of history.” However, others argue that deepening involvement could replicate mistakes of past conflicts, warning of potential fallout from toppling regional powers without considering the long-term impact.
Supporters Push for More U.S. Involvement, While Critics Urge Restraint
Israeli and American officials remain divided on the U.S.’s role in the conflict. Some, like former Israeli security official Yoel Guzansky, advocate for the Biden administration to join Israel in direct attacks on Iran, asserting that doing so would send a strong deterrent message to Iran’s leadership.
However, others are wary of deepening U.S. involvement, recalling the unintended consequences following the Iraq invasion. Experts like Vali Nasr, a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, express concern that unchecked military victories may lead to prolonged, destabilizing cycles of conflict. “Israel will be in a situation where it can only protect itself by perpetual war,” Nasr said, noting that Israel’s current path risks dragging the region into wider instability.
Risks of Further Escalation
One major concern is the potential for regional escalation. Israeli counterstrikes on Iran following Tehran’s recent missile attacks could heighten the chances of an all-out war, a scenario the Biden administration has long sought to avoid. Recent Israeli attacks have paused diplomatic efforts by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar to negotiate a cease-fire and hostages release deal in Gaza. Vice President Kamala Harris has reiterated Washington’s commitment to supporting Israel’s self-defense while simultaneously pushing for de-escalation.
The conflict is already reshaping alliances in the region. Iran’s military coalition, often called the “Axis of Resistance,” includes forces that oppose Western influence and support Russia. Formed following the 2003 Iraq invasion, Iran’s coalition has grown and now poses a challenge for Israel and the U.S. Critics of Israel’s strategy worry that targeting this coalition without addressing deeper issues could lead to a rise in extremism, instability, and repression across Middle Eastern governments as they try to maintain control.
Echoes of 2003 and Iraq’s Legacy
Observers note striking parallels between the current situation and the 2003 Iraq War, in which U.S. efforts to reshape the Middle East by toppling Saddam Hussein ultimately bolstered Iran’s influence and empowered militant groups like the Islamic State. Iran’s expanded power and alliances with countries like Russia and North Korea have changed the region’s power structure, turning it into a dominant force in the “Axis of Resistance.”
Despite efforts to minimize Iran’s influence, it remains unclear how Israel’s ongoing offensive will impact the broader regional dynamic. Experts, like Professor Ihsan Alshimary of Baghdad University, note that Iran’s stronger position following the Iraq invasion has contributed to its alignment with Russia in ways that could not have been anticipated two decades ago.
Uncertain Outcomes for Middle Eastern Stability
The ultimate outcome of Israel’s campaign against Iran’s allies remains uncertain. Some supporters, like Goldberg, are hopeful that reducing Iran’s influence will increase stability, while critics fear it may erode U.S. power in the region as it appears increasingly tied to Israel’s decisions. Meanwhile, the prospect of Israel becoming bogged down in an extended ground war with Hezbollah in Lebanon could result in a protracted conflict, further destabilizing the region.
Georgetown University’s Mehran Kamrava observes that the longstanding cold conflict between Israel and Iran has now become an open “hot war.” Kamrava warns, “We are certainly at the precipice of change,” but predicting how this shift will impact the broader Middle East is challenging. For now, both Iran’s coalition and its adversaries are navigating an uncertain path as the region braces for potentially transformative and unpredictable shifts in the years ahead.
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