Since the outbreak of the “Al-Aqsa Hurricane” battle, the United States has sought to prevent the escalation and expansion of the conflict to avoid becoming regional. As part of its military and diplomatic support for the state of Israeli occupation, Washington has sent diplomatic and military messages to elements of the resistance axis and Iran’s allies in the region urging them not to engage in the battle. The United States has deployed its aircraft carriers, the Ford and the Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean. The Ford, operational since 2017, is the latest and largest American aircraft carrier in the world with over 5,000 sailors on board. The nuclear-powered Eisenhower, operational since 1977, also carries 5,000 sailors and is capable of carrying up to 9 squadrons of aircraft, including fighters, helicopters, and reconnaissance aircraft. Like the aircraft carrier Ford, the Eisenhower is accompanied by other ships such as the guided missile cruiser “Philippine Sea,” and the guided missile destroyers “Gridley” and “Mason.”
Escalating Fronts: Lebanon and Yemen
However, since October 8th, Hezbollah has begun escalating its operations in southern Lebanon, targeting Israeli military sites and surveillance points along the 140-kilometer border. During the first three months of the confrontation, Hezbollah claims to have carried out nearly 700 strikes against Israeli targets, including 48 military sites and surveillance points, and targeting 17 settlements along the border from Ras al-Naqoura in the west to the occupied Syrian Golan Heights in the east. Meanwhile, the Ansar Allah group in Yemen (the Houthis) joined the confrontation to pressure for the cessation of aggression against Gaza.
Firing from Iraq and Syria
On October 21, 2023, the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” launched missile and drone attacks on American military sites in Syria and Iraq in response to the US-backed Israeli aggression on Gaza. Data from both sides indicates that more than 200 attacks and attempted attacks have occurred against US forces and the international coalition throughout the Middle East by the resistance axis in the past four months, a 20-fold increase compared to the previous four-month period. In the 12 months leading up to October 7th of last year, only about 30 similar events were reported in the region. Despite US desires to prevent escalation in the region, Biden’s administration ultimately declared a series of attacks against both the Houthi group in Yemen and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Syria.
America’s Goals Behind the Attacks
Through these attacks, the United States seeks to deter these groups in the midst of delicate security conditions prevailing in the region since October 7th, 2023. The Biden administration places these attacks within the context of pressure on its forces and the international coalition to withdraw from Iraq in accordance with decisions of the Iraqi Parliament. Furthermore, the administration fears that “Axis of Resistance” groups may intensify their targeting of Israel directly due to the continuing aggression on Gaza and the potential for escalation in southern Lebanon.
Cautious Targets to Avoid Iran
Following the attacks, President Joe Biden accused militias backed by Tehran of perpetrating the attacks, affirming that an Iranian-made drone executed the airstrike. The United States sought to avoid targeting Iranian territory and refrained from directly accusing Tehran of the attacks on the Tanf and Al-Tanaf Border Crossing base in Jordan. This cautious approach aligns with the avoidance of a major regional escalation, as expressed by the US military command in the Middle East (CENTCOM).
Aftermath of the American Attacks
The US attacks against the resistance axis’s sites in Syria and Iraq were precise and calculated, aiming to avoid a larger escalation, which may compel these groups to continue targeting US sites. In their response to the US attacks, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and Ansar Allah in Yemen (the Houthis) have declared their intent to retaliate, which could further escalate the situation in the region.
The post will be concluded at this point, and it will address the response of Iran and Syria to the American attacks. It will also feature statements from Hamas, the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, and the Islamic Resistance Movement following the American strikes.
