U.S. military strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria – plus joint actions with the UK against Yemen’s Houthi forces – have ignited fresh fears of a widening Middle East crisis. This comes after three American soldiers were killed in Jordan, escalating regional tensions to their highest point since the Israel-Palestine conflict began in October.
Why Now?
Washington says the strikes are retaliatory, but experts warn this could \"open Pandora’s box,\" as Zhao Hai of China’s National Institute for Global Strategy puts it. Tehran University’s Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi argues the U.S. is \"fueling chaos\" by targeting groups with local legitimacy.
What’s Next?
Dan Arbell of American University warns the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping won’t stop \"unless Gaza gets a ceasefire.\" Meanwhile, Kawa Hassan notes the risk of proxy wars escalating into \"direct clashes between major powers.\"
Could this spiral into another full-blown war? The world is watching – and holding its breath. 🕊️⚡
