Branco, National Security

Emboldened Iran “lets slip the dogs of war”

Posted on by Kelly McCarthy

Israel has normalised relations with two of its direct neighbours, while several other states and groups in the Middle East are seen as hostile to, or outright enemies of, the Jewish state.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned Israel that the Middle East could spiral out of control, if Israel does not stop strikes on Gaza.

“I warn the US and its proxy Israel that if they do not immediately stop the crime against humanity and genocide in Gaza, anything is possible at any moment and the region will go out of control,” Amir-Abdollahian said at a news conference in Tehran on Monday.

Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon are walking a very fine line at the moment in disagreeing with Israel’s treatment of Palestinians but also protecting their own interests and keeping a distance from Hamas. SBS

AF Branco: Go to the Dogs

Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Saudi Arabia protected Israel from missiles from Yemen, across the Gulf. In a new revelation by The Wall Street Journal, the Kingdom played a critical role in intercepting missiles fired towards Israel by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen.

While the US’s USS Carney* guided missile cruiser neutralized four missiles, Saudi Arabia’s interception had remained under wraps until recently.

Using its US-supplied Patriot Missile Defence array, Saudi Arabia successfully intercepted a missile, marking a significant joint effort in regional security.

Although the Pentagon hasn’t linked Iran directly to the missile attacks, a senior Defence Department official underscores Washington’s stance, holding Tehran accountable for the proxy actions.

Officials say, “when you see this uptick in activity and attacks by many of these groups… there’s Iranian fingerprints all over it.”

*USS Carney (DDG-64) is the 14th Arleigh Burke -class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship is the first to be named after Admiral Robert Carney who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.

Meanwhile, in DC…