Guardian columnist Simon Tisdall asserts that the initial airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen mark another significant milestone in a longstanding series of Western policy failures in the Middle East, including the enduring failure to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Tisdall points out that America’s forced resort to military action, backed by Britain—in response to Houthi attacks crippling commercial shipping in the Red Sea—is indicative of Washington’s dwindling political influence, ineffective diplomacy, and disdain for its authority.
Iran as a Dominant Force
The article suggests that the Houthis’ pledge to continue attacks on shipping highlights a new reality: the dominant power in the Middle East is no longer the United States or even Israel, but Iran, the Houthis’ main ally.
The writer notes that President Joe Biden has alienated global public opinion, as well as many Americans, with his reckless promise to provide unconditional support to Israel and use veto power against United Nations plans for a ceasefire in Gaza. Biden’s Middle Eastern policy, according to Tisdall, seems outdated and disconnected from reality.
Axis of Resistance
The article mentions Iran-sponsored militia networks, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” such as the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and militias in Iraq and Syria, including the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), are enhancing Iran’s influence in the region and beyond.
The columnist underlines the clear indication that Iran has assembled a remotely-controlled alliance of proxies, determined to remain after America’s exit from the region.
A Formidable Power
Tisdall adds that last year, Iran took practical steps to repair relations with its Arab rivals in the Gulf and brokered a deal to restore relations with Saudi Arabia. The most significant aspect of this deal is China’s mediation role. This, along with a new friendship with Russia, has transformed Iran’s fortunes, making it a formidable force.
The writer concludes that Iran, 45 years after its revolution, has now become immune to sanctions, ostracism, and threats, situating America, Britain, and Israel against a substantial adversary that is part of a global triumvirate (Iran, China, and Russia), supported by powerful militias in the region and substantial economic strength.
