That confusing fight in the Middle East

So, get your program out so you can follow this thing; While we’re negotiating with Iran over their nuclear ambitions, we’re flying US aircraft in support of Iranian troops in Iraq. We’re also supporting the Saudis as they begin to whack Iranian-supported rebels in Yemen. The war in the Middle East is shaping into a war between Sunnis and Shi’ites. From Fox News;

Top Sunni clerics have voiced their support for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen Friday, while top Iranian leaders including President Hasan Rouhani have already condemned the intervention.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon condemned the “Saudi-American attack,” saying “it is the right of Yemen’s people, who are brave and resilient, to fight and resist, and they will succeed.

U.S. officials told the paper that Saudi officials have requested air tankers to refuel planes and for more American-made bombs to continue with the strikes. The U.S. is preparing to help the Saudis once the requests are approved in Washington.

Under the plan, the U.S. would step up its role in a new military coordination center to aid the Saudi Arabia-led campaign.

Meanwhile in Switzerland, the western nations are trying to hammer out a deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear ambitions while Iran seeks to have the sanctions against them lifted, according to AFP;

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called Thursday for the “unjust” sanctions choking the country’s economy to be lifted, with global powers insisting sanctions will only be suspended, not lifted, as a safeguard against any violations.

The emerging accord is to be rounded out with complex technical annexes by a June 30 deadline.

According to Fox News, Iran is “pissed” that Iraqi forces have “partnered” with US airstrikes in the battle for Tikrit;

“[The Iranians] are really pissed that Iraq is choosing to partner with the U.S. in the battle for Tikrit,” the official said.

The heavy involvement of Iran-backed Shiite militias in the battle for Tikrit, currently held by the Islamic State, was a big factor in the United States’ initial reluctance to get involved.

But with the U.S. launching airstrikes, Iran has threatened to order all its Shiite militias, including members of the powerful Badr Brigade, out of the area and in some cases out of Iraq, according to the official.

“They will probably send them to Yemen,” he said, referring to the widespread fighting in the unstable nation where Saudi Arabia and others are now battling Iran-backed forces for control.

Meanwhile, in Yemen, the US rescued two Saudi pilots who ejected from their F-15 jet over the Gulf of Aden during combat operations against the Houthis, reports Fox News;

The two airmen ejected from their F-15 and were rescued around 5:20 p.m. ET in international waters by a HH-60 helicopter, a U.S. defense official said Friday.

The USS Sterett, USS New York and USS Djibouti participated in the operation, the official said.

Also on Friday, Saudi Arabia praised the U.S. for helping an Arab air campaign against Yemen’s rebels.

The Saudi ambassador in Washington, Adel al-Jubeir, said the U.S. has been “very supportive” of the operation politically and logistically. He said the kingdom is “very pleased” with the level of coordination with the U.S., which has established a joint planning cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate U.S. and military and intelligence support.

So, let me see if I got this straight – we’re fighting against the Sunni ISIS thugs and we’re trying to dethrone the Syrian Assad who is supported by the Shi’ite Iranians and opposed by ISIS. The Iranians are also fighting against ISIS, along with their proxies Hezbollah. We’re supporting the Sunni Saudi government who is fighting the Iranian-backed Shi’ite rebels in Yemen. It all makes perfect sense. Or not.

Category: Terror War