Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
www.asiantribune.net
The United States had launched its war against Iran earlier this year, with the aim to change the Iranian regime.
However, more than six months have passed, but the US’ operation Epic Fury that had started on February 28, has not been able to meet its core objective.
Iran’s clout has grown and its influence now extends due to the strategic decisions, nation’s leadership, resilience, asymmetric warfare and the will to resist the superpower’s strikes.
US president Donald Trump had earlier boasted that it would be a quick victory but right now United States is trapped in Iran.
Not just that Iran continued to respond—using its missiles and drones, the country that was facing America’s much superior air power and technology, still managed to fight back.
Iran’s supreme leader was killed along with his family members and the US attack on the school that led to large scale deaths of innocent girls, caused a negative reaction in the world.
But later on, Iran targeted the US’ bases in the entire region. This has been a price that US has to pay because Iran fought for its survival and the Gulf nations that had stood rock solid with US, were awe-struck. The mood in Arab and the Muslim street also turned pro-Iran.
A long history of US attack on Muslim nations and its ally, Israel’s actions in the region, have naturally angered the majority of populace in Middle East and has made US latest attack, hugely unpopular.
That Iran stood up and faced the US’ military attack, led to sentiment change even in the West that has been horrified by the images of atrocities from Gaza.
Iran managed to play its cards well and the decision to control the Strait of Hormuz was a game changer. US is the lone super power, unarguably, but the fact that oil and gas supplies are vital for other nations, proved to be an ace and Iran showed that it was a regional power.
The country has been under sanctions for decades and its citizens have suffered for long. The country had experience of long war and hardships during the war with Iraq in the 1980s.
As the attacks on US’ bases caused insecurity among other Gulf nations and it hurt their economy, Iran’s strength is now acknowledged and the country’s reputation too went up.
Russia, China and certain other countries have been supportive and Iran has also used its connections well. Yemeni rebels’ ability to control movements of ships through Bab el Mandeb, is also crucial.
The Houthi rebels have been battle hardened and their ability to fight and fire at passing ships is well known.
United States has attacked Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and many other countries in the recent years. In the past, US has been involved in wars and even got stuck in other nations for years. After Vietnam too, this didn’t stop.
America has been involved in the Gulf for quite long. Besides, Iran is able to play its role as an emerging power in Asia and is using diplomatic channels, effectively.
Donald Trump had fought the election, promising to stay away from wars. But Israel managed to prevail upon US to initiate this war. Clearly, US has again got stuck in another war in a faraway nation.
[editor@asiantribune.net]
