Trump must Act Isreal Iran Russia24 Mar 2018 17:27
Just Snippetts, Around dinner tables and cafes in Beirut these days, discussions are increasingly turning to one topic: the likelihood of another war with Israel. It has been an ongoing debate for several years now, gaining renewed vigor each time Israeli and Hezbollah leaders publicly promise to inflict more harm on each other than ever before if, indeed, the countries went to war.
However, Iran�s blatant and growing military presence on Israel�s doorstep, and Tehran�s rapidly deteriorating relationship with the United States, is introducing a greater likelihood of conflict.
Fresh from a March 5 meeting at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told his cabinet he believes President Trump will pull out of the Iran nuclear agreement before the next sanctions waiver deadline on May 12.
Although President Trump has given no public indication what he will decide, his repeated threats, tweets and vocal dissatisfaction with Iran �- and specifically with the Iran nuclear agreement -� are reigniting fears that Washington is paving the way for a new Middle East clash.
Along with Israel, Saudi Arabia�s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is also a very strong opponent of growing Iranian strength and influence in the region. This week, he is being greeted with open arms and with great affection at the White House, with the question of what to do about Iran no doubt being one of the main points of discussion. The latest rumor swirling around the Arab world speculates on the possibility of a preemptive aerial strike �- by the U.S. or Israel, or a combined show of force � against Iranian forces and militias building up inside Syria. In addition to his speculation about Mr. Trump�s intentions toward the Iran nuclear agreement, Netanyahu also returned from Washington declaring that he had secured historic contributions toward Israel�s �national security.� The educated guess is that he received some kind of promise from Trump on not only withdrawing from the agreement, but perhaps even a tacit approval on military action.Taking into account Iran�s close relationship with Hezbollah, any attack on Iranian targets inside Syria, or any attack on Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon, would likely, and very quickly, escalate into a greater region-wide war involving many more nations. Both Russia and the United States have large numbers of troops in the region. With Russian tactical and strategic assistance, Syrian President Assad has bounced back off the ropes and defeat many of his anti-regime rebel foes. His survival is thanks to partnerships with Russia and Iran -- two countries that see benefit from maintaining a long-term military presence inside Syria. U.S. is planning to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem sometime next month; elections are planned for May 12 in Iraq, elections May 6 in Lebanon, MBS�s