KARACHI:
History rarely announces its warnings; it buries them in patterns. The recent killing of a senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has reignited tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. While individuals may fall, history reminds us that men are not doctrines; systems and strategies endure. At the same time, the US is positioning forces near these waters. Such movements often carry an air of confidence. Yet history offers a sobering counterpoint.
In 1915, the British Empire sent its fleet into the Dardanelles, assured of victory. By day’s end, ships had sunk and certainty with them. The ensuing Gallipoli Campaign became a prolonged tragedy, costing hundreds of thousands of lives and proving a harsh truth: geography does not yield to ambition.
The parallels today are difficult to ignore. The Strait of Hormuz remains narrow; its surrounding terrain is unforgiving. Military assets may change but the strategic logic of chokepoints persists. Removing a commander does not erase the doctrine that shaped his actions.
Straits are not conquered by declaration. They are negotiated with geography, time and restraint. The Dardanelles did not yield to firepower alone. Nor will the Strait of Hormuz. In the end, it is not merely commanders who shape outcomes but the enduring realities they confront.
Kaleemullah
Kashmore
