Iran’s recent pronouncements about retaliating against any US or Israeli attack are unsurprising, given the complex web of regional conflicts. The statement itself is a clear warning, but the specifics of how Iran might respond remain shrouded in uncertainty.
The question of how Iran might retaliate is crucial. A direct military confrontation seems unlikely given the disparity in military capabilities. Iran’s air force is outdated, and its ballistic missile capabilities have been significantly hampered. Therefore, reliance on proxy groups, such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas, for asymmetric warfare appears more probable. This approach allows Iran to wage conflict while maintaining plausible deniability.… Continue reading
Israel’s recent declaration of intent to strike Iran directly if Iran launches an attack from its territory is a bold move, but one that seems to be rooted in the basic principle of self-defense. It is no secret that Iran has been utilizing a proxy strategy to carry out attacks, thereby lessening the risk of significant retaliation. By operating through proxies like the Houthis, Iran has been able to cause chaos and destruction while avoiding direct confrontation with its enemies.
The situation near the Lebanese border paints a grim picture of the impact of these proxy attacks, with towns becoming war zones and hundreds of thousands of people displaced.… Continue reading
Iran is ‘directly involved’ in Houthi ship attacks, US Navy’s Mideast chief says
In recent news, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, has stated that Iran is “very directly involved” in the ship attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels during Israel’s war against Hamas. This revelation may not come as a surprise to those who have been paying close attention to the situation in the Middle East.
While Cooper did not explicitly claim that Iran directed each individual attack, he did acknowledge that Iran’s influence has expanded beyond the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, now posing a threat to waters across the wider Middle East.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker