The U.S. role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has exacerbated its dilemma in the Middle East, and provocations by Iran and the Houthis have put the U.S. in an awkward position. Faced with this situation, more and more voices in the United States advocate a strike on Iran itself. However, Iran is well prepared, with a huge 600,000-strong army on standby, and could face a flank from both sides in the event of an attack.
In response to Iranian-backed militants, the United States carried out airstrikes on Syria and Iraq.
Since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the United States seems to be stuck in the Middle East and has found itself in a tricky situation. Recently, tensions in the Middle East have further escalated, and the United States' predicament has deepened.
Previously, a US military base in Jordan was attacked by Iranian-backed militants, and this attack resulted in the ** of US military personnel, which is not the first time that US military bases have been attacked in the Middle East, but this time there have been US military personnel killed.
According to a report from the U.S. Command, on January 28, a U.S. military base in Jordan was attacked by **, killing three U.S. soldiers and injuring more than 30.
Although the death toll is not high, for the United States, as the world hegemon, the message and signal behind this incident is very important. This is also the first time since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that the US military has killed people in an attack.
In the aftermath of the incident, it is clear that the United States needs to react. The United States quickly launched airstrikes on targets of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq.
But further U.S. actions in the Middle East could make the situation in the Middle East even more volatile.
After the U.S. airstrikes on Syria and Iraq, several countries expressed their dissatisfaction with the United States. Iraq has stated that it should not become a place for great power games.
Obviously, the United States has responded by launching air strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria and Iraq, and has become at an international disadvantage. But for the United States, the situation could be even worse.
After the incident, the ** in the United States has become more and more intense, and more and more voices have called for a crackdown on Iran itself.
Many Republicans say the strikes should be directed at Iranian soil. They believe that if the United States fails to respond strongly, it will weaken the image of the United States in the international community.
Will the U.S. strike at Iran's mainland or waters?
In the wake of the attack on the U.S. base in Jordan, there has been speculation about how the U.S. will react. Judging by the actions taken by the United States so far, it seems to be expected.
However, as domestic calls for a strike on Iran soil have grown, people have begun to wonder whether the United States will actually take such a step.
Judging by the current situation, US air strikes on Syria and Iraq are a last resort.
After all, the deaths of American soldiers cannot be kept silent, and it is difficult to account for them to the domestic public without action.
But if the strike is too strong or directly aimed at Iran itself, it could trigger a larger ripple effect that could put the United States in a deeper predicament.
As we all know, Iran is an important country in the Middle East, and its military strength cannot be ignored.
Iran has many allies in the Middle East, including Syria, the Houthis, Allah in Lebanon, and Iraqi militias, making up a formidable resistance. The Houthis, in particular, have recently caused great annoyance to the United States and its allies in the Middle East.
In December 2023, the Houthis announced that tens of thousands of people had volunteered for training, and now more than 1650,000 civilians received military training to serve as reserve forces. These people can go into battle at any time if the need arises.
The Houthis have not only stepped up their mobilization efforts, but have also trained 600,000 people. This huge figure shows that if these forces are in direct confrontation with the US military, the US side may find it difficult to bear.
If the United States does take military action against Iran itself, it may face unprecedented challenges. If the conflict escalates, the United States may find itself having trouble cleaning up the situation.
Therefore, whether it is Republicans or some US generals, most of the rhetoric of attacking Iran is likely to be hard-line rhetoric, and the actual action may be very cautious.
The United States is currently in a dilemma
At present, the Houthis are becoming more and more courageous in the Red Sea region, but the United States is hesitant. The United States is currently in a very awkward position, and it is difficult to extricate itself from Israel's involvement in Middle East affairs.
If the Houthis and Iran are appeased, the international image of the United States will be severely damaged, and allies may reassess their relations with the United States. There may also be a perception in the United States that Biden is weak and incompetent, which could have a negative impact on Biden's election this year.
But if the United States chooses to intervene deeply, it may plunge the United States into a deeper predicament, continue to consume America's scarce resources, and accelerate its decline.
Looking back at the history of the United States, the Middle East seems to be both the key to its success and the source of its failure.