The situation in the Middle East has escalated due to increased US involvement with Israel against Hamas. President Joe Biden appears to be yielding to anti-war sentiments in Washington, albeit after contributing to the rise of Islamic extremist groups like the Houthi in Iran by supporting Israel’s ongoing strikes on Hamas. The United States is now at a critical juncture that has the potential to escalate into a broader conflict, possibly leading to World War III.
According to Foreign Policy, Iran, known for its strong ties to terrorism, strategically maintains a level of detachment from direct involvement in regional conflicts. Instead, it relies on proxy groups such as the Houthi and Hezbollah to carry out various operations while its leaders attempt to keep their hands relatively clean.
Concurrently, terrorist activities in the region involve attacks on international shipping routes and the provision of weapons to Islamic radicals, contributing to the ongoing conflicts involving groups like Hamas.
Biden’s involvement in this situation has two aspects. Initially supporting Israel’s attacks on its neighboring territory caused a backlash, especially when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a commitment to eliminating Hamas, even if it meant endangering tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians. Biden has been ineffective in restraining the Israeli leader, allowing for aggressive strikes that only fuel the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
Similarly troubling, the American president has taken no action to hold Iran accountable for the havoc caused by its proxy groups in the pursuit of jihad. In August 2023, Biden’s choice to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds for a purported prisoner exchange only served to bolster the regime further.
At this juncture, the United States may need to directly engage with Iran if there is any hope of bringing an end to the ongoing conflict. Additionally, President Biden might find it necessary to exert direct pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu, urging him to reconsider his approach and adopt a more humanitarian stance in addressing the remaining Hamas cells.
No other nation holds a comparable degree of influence, yet the opportunity to take action is gradually diminishing. If President Biden fails to devise a strategy to pacify both situations promptly, the possibility of another global conflict becomes increasingly imminent.
