UNENDING provocations by Iran and its proxies in the Middle East are pushing the war to a dangerous direction where Muslim countries could be forced to fight among themselves, an eventuality that was effectively avoided mainly due to persistent policy of restraints by Gulf countries. The situation is becoming alarming, putting the Makkah Defence Alliance to a serious test as Pakistan and Turkiye might be forced to act as per collective defence provision of the pact.
The Iran-aligned Houthis are bent upon opening a new front of the war by a series of attacks on Saudi infrastructure and national assets, which entered the second day on Wednesday despite calls by Pakistan and Turkiye not to target KSA. Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones towards the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait and Jazan on Wednesday and a day earlier their attacks on Khamis Mushait and Abha as well as nearby areas wounded 73 people and set oil installations ablaze. This deliberate and provocative expansion of the conflict has left Saudi Arabia with no choice but to respond in kind. According to Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, all steps will be taken to protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty, national assets and civilians. There are reports that Pakistan has delivered a Saudi warning to Iran to rein in its Yemeni Houthi allies after they stepped up attacks on the kingdom, in a coordinated effort to prevent the crisis from spiraling. While officials in Islamabad stressed any military role would be confined to defending Saudi territory, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said attacks spilling into the kingdom could trigger a joint security arrangement involving Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad. He emphasized that Pakistan is bound by the terms of the accord and will honour them should the need arise.
There are two other dimensions of the conflict indicating no early resolution of the crisis and more difficulties for Iran. At the instance of the United States, the UN nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors has passed a resolution reporting Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years for breaching its non-proliferation obligations. Rejecting the resolution, Iran, Russia and China said it “ignores attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities” and was “aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran and weakening Iran-IAEA cooperation”. The referral is unlikely to lead to immediate concrete action against Tehran because Russia and China, both close Iranian allies, are permanent members of the security council and can veto any substantive measure. But the move nevertheless marks a significant escalation in the long-running diplomatic confrontation between Iran and Western powers and could bring the focus back on the nuclear issue. The latest statement of President Donald Trump is also a confirmation that Washington was in no hurry to wind up a war that has caused upheavals in the global economy and trade. Intensified tanker war has pushed oil prices beyond $100 a barrel and now Trump claims that war might end only after mid-term elections in the United States. He said the Iran war will end “immediately after” the US midterm elections in November, because Tehran was trying to influence the vote but would not be able to hold out any longer. In fact, top White House advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have privately warned President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could extend through the remainder of his presidency. Diplomacy could offer a solution but that is possible only if there is sincere commitment to peace by the two sides. Mediators are still optimistic but they need a complementary environment that could help reduce tensions in the region. (ends)
