2024-02-18T07:43:08+00:00
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/ The Russian newspaper “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” reported that “Arab allies” are obstructing the Pentagon’s air strikes targeting “pro-Iranian” armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
The newspaper said in a report titled, “The Arab Gulf states do not want to become enemies of Iran,” adding that “the Arab states are trying to curb Washington’s operations against pro-Iranian groups in the Middle East.”
The Russian newspaper cited a report by the American newspaper “Politico”, which said that “several Arab countries are preventing American aircraft from taking off from their bases.”
The American newspaper’s sources said that the players who are “trying to defuse tensions with Iran are increasingly restricting” the United States and its partners from launching raids against Shiite groups in Iraq and Syria, and against the Houthi Ansar Allah movement in Yemen.
The official quoted by the newspaper confirms that the Americans are facing difficulties in reaching their bases and in freedom of air movement.
Politico lists the UAE as a “rejecter.” It’s not clear who joined, but they’re likely referring to Qatar and Kuwait.
On this, international relations expert Vladimir Frolov told Nezavisimaya Gazeta that the problem with the Arab opposition is not very acute yet. He added: “The allies’ concerns are understandable: the Houthis do not listen to anyone. The Iraqis also do not want problems with Iran’s “proxies” who control a lot of things there. But if attacks on US bases and trade in the Red Sea continue and escalate, Washington will have no choice in how to respond. The Americans do not intend to reduce their presence in Iraq and Syria.”
Frolov pointed to a column written by former US Central Command commander Kenneth McKenzie, recently published in the New York Times, in which he says that Americans should not leave the Middle East.
“Of course, the alert is unpleasant for the Americans, but Saudi Arabia, Qatar or the UAE have nowhere to turn for protection from Iran’s ‘proxies,’” he added. “Moscow or Beijing are unlikely to be able to help here.”