America & Iran inching towards war, says expert
IRAN’S missile attack on Iraq, which nearly hit US consulate buildings, has put Iran and America inching closer to open warfare, it is claimed.
Former FBI Middle East and terrorism expert Ali Soufan issued the warning as tensions in the Red Sea escalated with the US launching a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis yesterday.
The US destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles which had threatened ships in the region. It was the third recent assault on the Iranbacked group.
The Houthis earlier claimed responsibility for a missile attack against a Malta-flagged cargo ship. No one was hurt.
Mr Soufan said Iran’s hardline stances means it favours attacks on US and allied interests with American officials under pressure to respond.
His report, Are The US and Iran Headed Toward Conflict?, argues that Iran is supporting its allies and proxies in stopping “US efforts to limit the war to Gaza”. It warns the UK, part of the multi-national effort to protect Red Sea shipping against the Houthis, would be drawn into a conflict. The crisis follows a barrage of missiles fired by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards against western targets in Erbil, northern Iraq, on Monday.
They had claimed to be targeting an Israeli “Mossad HQ”. Sources said it is possible Mossad had an HQ near the US consulate.
Five died and six were hurt in the strike. The US said none of its staff were hit.
The attacks were part of Iran’s support for its proxies backing Hamas in its war against Israel.
Mr Soufan warns that war between Iran and the US is more of a risk as the two sides are not talking with “diplomatic pathways for de-escalation absent”.
Yesterday Hamas launched 50 rockets into Israel from an area in Gaza supposed to be controlled by IDF forces.
Diplomatic paths to de-escalate tensions are absent ALI SOUFAN, PICTURED, ON RISING RISK OF WAR