Mitigate escalation

Extermination of Hamas chief Haniyeh in Tehran and Iran's resolve to avenge it has pushed region into dilemma

The Persian Gulf and the Straits are in a fixation. The extermination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the Islamic Republic’s resolve to avenge it with Israel has pushed the volatile region in a serious security dilemma. The situation is further compounded with the amassing of military gear by the United States as it ordered more destroyers and fighter jets to the Middle East. The sailing in of aircraft carrier USS Lincoln has made it obvious that a showdown could be on the cards, as no diplomatic measures are underway for de-escalation. While Iran is tight-lipped on its possible retaliatory strategy, it seems the non-state actors will be at the vanguard to swing surprises, and that remains a guessing game as Tehran’s influence spans from Lebanon to Yemen.

It is worth noticing that the US Department of Defense is calling the shots for buckling up war machinery, and there is a silence of lambs from the State Department and the White House. This will not help in mitigating the possibility of regional escalation, and likewise the sitting on the fences by Arab allies too is concerning. An immediate casualty of this new vessels and aircraft scrambling is the cause of obliterated Gaza and occupied territories. Palestinians are in the middle of collateral damage and this state-centric tussle has taken ceasefire and humanitarian plans off the table. Though tough to rate, it seems Iran will not sit idle for long. Any of its retaliation on the Jewish state directly will be taken as a state of war by Israel and the US. Tehran is embarrassed to the core and Haniyeh’s killing is being read aloud with Hezbollah commander’s taking out in Lebanon and the drone attacks that Isfahan witnessed earlier this year.

It is a catch-22 situation for Iran, and the simmering unrest comes as an opportunity to cash in on political capital in the region. However, it warrants a mindset of serenity across the region, and the US would be better advised not to gamble on flexing of muscles on the eve of a presidential duel. Any misadventure will be too toiling to count on.