Orientul Mijlociu

A commander from Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq that the Pentagon has blamed for attacking its troops, was killed in a U.S. strike on Wednesday, the U.S. military said.

“(U.S.) forces conducted a unilateral strike in Iraq in response to the attacks on U.S. service members, killing a Kataib Hezbollah commander responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region,” a statement from the military said. It did not name the commander, Reuters reported.

The US-Iranian escalation has taken a new turn when Washington announced strikes on command and control centers, intelligence facilities, and weapon storage facilities used by Iran-backed militias to attack American forces and the International Coalition.

Through a series of attacks, the United States targeted 85 locations in Syria and Iraq, in response to the killing of its soldiers by shelling for which Iran was accused of being involved.

On February 2, 2024, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces had conducted airstrikes earlier that day against over 85 targets of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militias, including command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, rocket, missile, and unmanned aerial vehicle storage sites, and logistics and munition supply chain facilities.[1]

On February 3, 2024, the Houthi-run Yemen War Media Telegram channel posted a 44-minute video depicting a military exercise carried out by units from “reserve and central intervention forces” of the Yemeni armed forces. The video was titled, “Yemen is the Support of Palestine.” The exercise simulated attacks on American, British, and Israeli positions and the takeover of bases and “settlements of the Zionist enemy,” that were similar to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The drill, which was also broadcast live on The Houthis’ Al-masirah TV channel, was held in the context of the preparations of the Houthi forces for “the battle of the assured victory and the holy jihad,” and as assistance for Al-Aqsa Flood.[1]

Ever since oil was first found in Persia (now Iran) in 1908, and later in Saudi Arabia (1938), the US has steadily increased its interest and presence in the region, even after the US has become energy independent. Now, despite its presidents’ statements — “US first” and “Asia first” — the US finds itself deeply involved in Middle East (ME) affairs.

Shared thoughts, arising from deep concerns over the UK Government response to Israel’s ongoing genocide of Gaza.

As a young adult I read Kafka’s novel, ‘The Castle’. In trying to get himself heard, the protagonist is repeatedly blocked by layers of impotent clerks and ministers, as he attempts the impossible task, of trying to communicate with a regime that has elevated itself beyond reach of the ordinary person. This scenario appears to have been replicated within our current experience of dealing with government and corporations. The government and the people have grown so far apart that communication between them has all but ceased.

And How It Can Prevent Its Fight With the Group From Escalating

Since the Houthis launched their assault on global shipping in November, the United States and its partners have scrambled for ways to restore calm and commerce to the Red Sea. First, on December 18, Washington assembled a maritime coalition designed to boost the U.S. presence in the area and promote regional security. Then, in January, the United States started intercepting Iranian military shipments bound for the Houthis and issued multiple warnings to the group. Finally, after nearly two months of continuous attacks in the Red Sea, the United States and the United Kingdom launched a barrage of strikes against the Houthis’ facilities. But these attacks have not halted or seemingly slowed the onslaught. The group has continued to lob missiles and drones, prompting continued strikes by Washington and its allies.

Latest Developments

Hezbollah terrorists wounded two Israeli soldiers in a rocket attack on northern Israel on February 6. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that “terrorists launched several projectiles towards Margaliot in northern Israel. Following the attack sirens sounded warning people of the imminent threat. IDF artillery retaliated and struck the sources of the fire.” The two lightly wounded soldiers were evacuated to a hospital, the IDF said.

A brutal war is looming between the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and Israel.

The Iran-backed radicals began firing anti-tank missiles and drones at Israel Oct. 8, one day after Hamas carried out its mass slaughter of 1,200 Israelis.

Since the start of Operation Iron Swords (October 7, 2023), the Houthi campaign in the Red
Sea area has escalated and drawn in many participants, the most important of which are the
United States, Britain and Iran, whose involvement has increased. Initially the Houthis
launched missiles and UAVs at Israel, but their tactics gradually morphed into attacking
ships sailing in the Red Sea and near the coast of Yemen which they identified as “having
connections to Israel.”