Tensions between U.S. and Iran

What is the issue?

Tensions are likely to increase between the U.S. and Iran ahead of the coming battle for southern Syria.

Why is there an on-going war in Syria?

• In March 2011, pro-democracy protests erupted in the Syrai after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans.
• Security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing several, more took to the streets.
• The unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding more rights and President Assad's resignation.
• The government's use of force to crush the dissent merely hardened the protesters' resolve.
• Opposition supporters/Rebels also eventually began to take up arms, first to defend themselves and later to expel security forces from their local areas.
• Later it has acquired sectarian overtones.
• Syria is a Sunni majority country and the president belongs to Shia Alawite sect.
• This had drawn in regional and world powers.
• The rise of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has added a further dimension.

How Iran is involved in Syria?

• Iran, being a shia majority country wanted to back Assad.
• Since the war started, Tehran has sent money and troops and Shiite volunteers to support Mr. Assad’s men.
• Over the past two years, Russia and Iran, along with Hezbollah and several Iraqi Shiite militias, helped the Syrian President.
• Russian has been helping with airstrikes and Iran with ground support.
• With this help Assad recaptured the rebel-held sections of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

Why U.S is opposing Iran’s involvment?

• The Trump administration is worried that Iran and its allies might carve out a “Shiite crescent” extending from Iran, through Iraq and Syria, and into Lebanon.
• Such a prospect is against the interest of U.S. and its allies in the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia.

What is the recent rift?

• Since the dawn of new administration, the U.S. military has struck the Syrian regime/allies at least five times.
• American personnel have been training anti-Islamic State fighters in south-eastern Syria.
• U.S recently announced that it had shot down an Iranian-made drone in south-eastern Syria. It also shot down a Syrian jet in Syrian airspace.
• U.S is portraying it as a defensive measure to protect the Syrian rebels it has been training..
• But Mr. Assad’s regime and its Iranian allies view them as an aggression.

What will be the impact?

• The Syrian conflict has expanded into a war that involves regional and world powers including the U.S., Russia, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
• Various forces continue to converge on eastern and southern Syria to reclaim strategic territory from the Islamic State (IS).
• Even if U.S may not want to directly engage Syrian forces, these activities might lead to an accidental escalation.
• Trump administration is also constantly attacking the agreement Tehran signed with the U.S. to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
• These events could overreach and provoke a new confrontation that spirals out of control.

Source: The Hindu