Washington [US], October 24: While US pressure has not been enough to make Israel de-escalate, Arab countries in the Middle East are engaging more with their enemy Iran to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Yesterday (October 23), the war between Israel and organizations in the Middle East region showed no signs of cooling down while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was present in the region. The Israeli army announced airstrikes on the Lebanese city of Tyre after issuing an evacuation warning, and shot down 3 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from the east, implying Iraq, and many rockets from Lebanon.
According to Reuters, several senior US State Department officials and the press corps accompanying Secretary of State Blinken left breakfast to go to a bomb shelter when the siren sounded in Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv "ignores" Washington's opinion
Mr. Blinken is making his 11th visit to the region this year, in an effort to seize the opportunity after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to seek a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release hostages, while also trying to defuse the conflict in Lebanon .
However, the US calls are said to be falling on deaf ears. In a statement on October 22, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that the removal of Mr. Sinwar could have a positive impact on the situation, but did not mention the possibility of a ceasefire.
Israeli leaders assured Mr. Blinken that Tel Aviv was not conducting a blockade of northern Gaza, but declined to publicly declare that commitment at the request of the US secretary of state, The Times of Israel reported, citing a US official. In a private meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Secretary of State Blinken that Israel would continue to attack Hezbollah even after the ground campaign in Lebanon ends.
Blinken's visit also comes as Israel prepares to respond to Iran's missile attack earlier this month. The US secretary of state stressed the importance of responding in a way that does not lead to further escalation in the region. Gallant expressed hope that the US would provide support after Israel responds to Iran.
Arab bloc in action
Increasingly concerned about the US's failure to de-escalate tensions, Washington's closest Arab allies in the region are stepping up dialogue with Iran to avoid being affected in the event of a wider conflict, according to CNN.
Arab countries, notably Saudi Arabia, have for decades competed with Iran for leadership in the Muslim world and influence in the region. While they see an opportunity to weaken Iran's influence in the region if Israel attacks, they are choosing a neutral path. Over the past month, Iran has sent senior officials to many Arab countries in the region as part of an intense diplomatic campaign. In a speech in Kuwait after visiting several Arab countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said all countries have guaranteed that their territories and airspace will not be used to attack Iran.
Explaining this, expert Cinzia Bianco at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) policy research organization assessed that the priority of the Gulf Arab monarchies is not to be directly involved in the conflict and the best way to avoid that possibility is to become an interlocutor for the parties in the conflict.
Although most Gulf Arab states rely on military cooperation with the United States, their confidence in their ally has shifted as Washington has gradually withdrawn from the Middle East to focus on the Asia-Pacific, Bianco said . Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been repeatedly attacked by Iranian-allied groups in recent years without US support, and they are skeptical about Washington's commitment to defend them if Tehran acts.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper