Tag

Proxies

All articles tagged with #proxies

world18 days ago•6 min saved

Rubio Pushes a Harder Iran Line Than Trump and Vance on the MOU

Rubio, while touring the Middle East, has offered a notably tougher take on Iran than Trump and Vance: branding Iran’s clerical leadership as radical, insisting the MOU should address Iran’s missiles and proxy networks, and treating Lebanon as a separate track. Trump has floated fewer limits on missiles and suggested possible reform, while Vance argued the accord should curb Iranian influence; the White House says the administration is unified, but Rubio’s regional remarks hint at a distinct personal line as policy evolves.

via CNN|

#iran #missiles #mou

middle-east1 month ago•11 min saved

Israel Labels Emerging US-Iran Framework a 'Bad Deal' Missing Missiles and Proxies

Israeli officials call the emerging US-Iran framework a 'bad deal' because it reportedly fails to curb Iran’s missile program or its regional proxies, potentially restricting Israel’s actions in Lebanon and elsewhere. Prime Minister Netanyahu convened a group of ministers and security officials to discuss the nascent agreement as negotiations continue. While US officials signal broad support from Tehran’s leadership, Israeli assessments say Tehran will seek to buy time rather than fully abandon its nuclear program, with sticking points including verification/monitoring, what happens to damaged nuclear infrastructure, and Hezbollah’s inclusion in any ceasefire.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#iran #israel #middle-east

world2 months ago•6 min saved

Russia escalates abroad assassination plots, Western officials say

Western intelligence officials say Moscow has intensified a campaign of targeted killings against opponents abroad, using proxies and Russian security services to threaten activists across Europe—from an attempted killing of French activist Vladimir Osechkin to plots foiled in Lithuania and Germany, and a 2024 case in Poland targeting Zelensky. A Russian defector was killed in Spain on suspected Kremlin orders. While Moscow denies involvement, officials describe a broader effort to intimidate critics and undermine European support for Ukraine, reflecting a shift toward proxy operations rather than direct Kremlin action.

via NBC News|

#assassination #europe #intelligence

world3 months ago•10 min saved

A month into the Iran war: tactical gains, elusive strategic aims

One month after the US–Israel strikes began in Iran, Washington touts major tactical wins such as degraded missile capability and strikes on Iran’s defence industry, navy, and air force, while Tehran continues to launch missiles and drones and keep regional pressure on Gulf and Israeli targets. Although the White House says progress has exceeded expectations, several strategic objectives—fully destroying Iran’s nuclear capability, eliminating its military-industrial base, seizing enriched uranium, achieving regime change, and guaranteeing open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—remain unfulfilled or uncertain, raising questions about the overall success of the operation and potential political or regional repercussions if the war drags on.

via Euronews.com|

#missiles #proxies #regime-change

world3 months ago•179 min saved

Diplomacy on a Knife-Edge as US and Iran Clash Over Endgame Demands

Public optimism about talks has not translated into a breakthrough as Washington and Tehran present starkly different endgame demands: the US’s 15-point framework would require Iran to give up nuclear weapons, surrender HEU, cap Tehran’s defense and proxies, and pay war damages, while Iran demands an immediate halt to aggression, guaranteed control over the Strait of Hormuz, full reparations, and a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts and proxies. With Gulf allies split on the best path forward and discussions possibly pivoting to meetings in Pakistan (potentially involving VP Vance), the path to negotiation remains narrow and the risk of renewed military action persists.

via CNN|

#diplomacy #nuclear-weapons #proxies

world4 months ago•2 min saved

The Underdog Playbook: How Iran Could Prolong a US-Israel Clash with Drones and Proxies

The piece argues that weaker powers win by asymmetric warfare, and Iran is leveraging proxies in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen along with inexpensive Shahed-136 drones to pressure US bases and allies, potentially dragging out a US-Israel confrontation in the Middle East, echoing past conflicts like Vietnam, Algeria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

via Al Jazeera|

#asymmetric-warfare #drones #iran

world4 months ago•12 min saved

A War With Iran Won’t Rewrite the Middle East

Foreign Affairs argues that a U.S.-led war against Iran is unlikely to deliver a stable, pro-American Middle East; even if Iran’s leadership is degraded, power vacuums and hard-line proxies could sustain regional wars, undermine Gulf alliances, and stagnate Arab-Israeli normalization, while China and Russia could benefit from Washington’s distraction—the only realistic path is cease-fire and targeted damage-control, not a wholesale ‘day after’ transformation.

via Foreign Affairs|

#iran #middle-east #proxies

world4 months ago•39 min saved

Ex-IDF Intelligence Chief: Iran Will Use All Tools in Existential War

Former IDF intelligence official Yossi Kuperwasser says Iran now views the conflict as an existential war and is likely to escalate by using all capabilities—military strikes, ballistic missiles, its nuclear/military industry, security forces, and proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq—to topple its opponents. He cautions that while China and Russia may offer diplomatic cover, they are not expected to join militarily, and that Iran’s centralized, resilient state could sustain long‑term responses with regional destabilization as a likely consequence.

via Yahoo|

#existential-war #iran #jerusalem-post

world4 months ago•5 min saved

Iranian Proxies Could Target U.S. Interests Abroad If Strikes Escalate, Officials Warn

Western security officials warn Iran could direct proxies—such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda affiliates—to attack American targets in Europe and the Middle East if President Trump orders large-scale strikes, though no specific plots have been confirmed. Increased chatter suggests planning and coordination, including possible attacks on Western shipping and on U.S. bases or embassies abroad. The threat complicates war planning, leads to defensive postures, and has sparked calls for a clear U.S. strategy to avoid a wider regional conflict and economic disruption.

via The New York Times|

#iran #proxies #security

world4 months ago•22 min saved

Iran War Risk: A Quick Strike Could Drag On Much Longer

The New York Times argues that any U.S. attack on Iran could be far more complex and protracted than similar operations in Venezuela, due to Iran’s missile capabilities, its regional network of proxies, and a multi-layered leadership structure, with interactive graphics illustrating missile ranges, proxies, and governance to highlight the higher, longer-range risks.

via The New York Times|

#iran #middle-east #military-conflict

middle-east5 months ago•7 min saved

Iran lays out a multi-front, enduring war strategy against the U.S.

Iran published a detailed concept for war with the United States, detailing missile barrages, proxy escalation, cyber operations, and threats to global oil flows. The plan envisions US strikes followed by Iranian counter-barrages, relies on hardened underground networks, and a saturation strategy that taxes defenses while expanding attacks via proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. It also leverages cyber missions targeting transport, energy, finance, and military communications, and uses the Strait of Hormuz to pressure markets, aiming for a costly, prolonged conflict rather than a quick defeat of the US. The concept surfaced amid ongoing US-Iran talks in Muscat and reactive rhetoric from Iranian leaders.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#cyberwarfare #iran #middle-east

international-relations2 years ago•6 min saved

"Iran's Regional Armed Network: Unveiling Control and Allies"

The Biden Administration's approach to Iran's support for various Shia militant groups in the Middle East as mere proxies fails to recognize their autonomy and local legitimacy, leading to a flawed strategy. These groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and PMF, have evolved into quasi-state actors with deep roots in their respective countries, and their actions are not solely directed by Iran. Targeting them only strengthens their resistance credentials and worsens the political and security conditions that gave rise to them. Instead of pressuring Iran to rein in its "proxies," the U.S. should reconsider its strategy and address the broader regional dynamics, including reining in Israel, to prevent further escalation.

via TIME|

#axis-of-resistance #international-relations #iran

international-relations2 years ago•4 min saved

"Iran's Unyielding Proxy Warfare Amid U.S. Airstrikes"

Despite U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed militants, Iran continues to supply weapons and intelligence to its proxies in the Middle East, leading to attacks on U.S. forces and commercial ships. The Biden administration has initiated airstrikes in response, aiming to deter further assaults. However, Iran's ongoing support for its proxies suggests that the airstrikes have not yet curbed its efforts. The U.S. Navy recently seized a shipment of missile components intended for Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Iran's involvement in supporting Houthi forces threatening commercial trade routes has raised tensions in the region.

via NBC News|

#international-relations #iran #middle-east

international-relations2 years ago•5 min saved

Iran's Dilemma: Avoiding a Regional War with Israel

The US intelligence community believes that Iran and its proxies are currently trying to avoid a direct conflict with Israel or the US while still inflicting costs on their adversaries. However, concerns remain about the control Iran has over its proxies, particularly Hezbollah, which is an ally of Hamas. The US officials are worried that internal politics within Hezbollah may lead to an escalation of tensions. While Iran knows that an escalation could provoke devastating counterattacks, the lower-level attacks by proxy groups have already caused significant military deployments by the US and Israel. The US officials believe that this is a coordinated strategy, but caution that it carries the potential for miscalculation and could lead to a wider conflict.

via CNN|

#conflict #hezbollah #international-relations

international-relations2 years ago•4 min saved

Retaliatory U.S. Airstrikes Spark Middle East Proxy Conflict

Following U.S. airstrikes on facilities used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and its proxies in Syria, the proxies retaliated by launching an attack drone at U.S. forces in western Iraq. The drone was shot down, and rockets fired into northern Syria missed American troops. The airstrikes aimed to deter further attacks, but questions remain about their effectiveness. Critics argue that the strikes were not sufficient to deter Iran and its proxies, while Biden administration officials believe that Iran does not want a war with the United States but may miscalculate due to the U.S.'s reluctance for military involvement in the region.

via The New York Times|

#airstrikes #deterrence #international-relations