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The Complex Dynamics of Middle East Conflicts
The ongoing conflict involving the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia, backed by Iran, underscores a larger geopolitical struggle in the region. According to a 2020-2021 report by CSIS, the Houthis were engaged in prominent ballistic missile attacks against Saudi Arabia. Despite this, the Biden administration removed the Houthis from the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list in February 2021. This decision was controversial as the Houthis continued their terror activities, aligned with Iran’s anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Arab rhetoric.
In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed reducing armaments to Israel. However, from 2020 to 2022, Cheddite, a French-Italian company, reportedly supplied shotguns and ammunition to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. This was aimed at quelling the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement in Iran.
These incidents highlight a pattern where Western countries, alongside the European Union, continue arming Middle Eastern states and groups, either directly or indirectly, without addressing underlying issues. Concurrently, China and Russia are expanding their influence by supplying arms, further complicating the region’s stability.
Historically, Iran and Israel were seen as stabilizing allies by the free world. The pivotal question remains: why do Western nations seem to speak from both sides of their mouths and fail to learn from past strategies?
