🇮🇷🇮🇶 How the Iran war is expanding from the Persian Gulf to Iraqi Kurdistan and Bab el-Mandeb

The conflict is likely to spread across the region, drawing in new actors and opening additional fronts if current trends continue, the West Asia News Agency (WANA) reports.

What are those trends?

🌏The US has been expanding military operations in Iran, targeting logistics and transportation networks, telecom towers and selected military facilities deep inside the Islamic Republic's territory

🌏 Iran responded by expanding attacks against US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Jordan. US positions in Syria have also been reportedly attacked for the first time

🌏 The increased focus on Jordan may be linked to Iran’s preparations for further strikes against Israel. A series of consecutive attacks on Jordanian air defense sites suggests an effort to weaken the kingdom’s ability to intercept missiles targeting Israel

🌏 Iran is reportedly preparing potential strikes against Israel in response to its growing role as a staging hub for US military equipment and weapons. US efforts to further strengthen Israel’s arsenal indicate a more direct Israeli role in the next phase of the conflict.

🇮🇶 Iraqi Kurdistan

🔴 Iran has recently stepped up operations against militant groups in Iraq's Kurdistan region, launching missile and drone strikes alongside special operations deep inside the sector. The scope and intensity of these operations have been unusual compared to previous years, according to WANA

➡️ Earlier, The Times of Israel reported on alleged Iranian strikes against what it described as the exiled Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) and the Komala Party

➡️ Turkey helped prevent Iranian Kurdish armed groups from opening a new front inside Iran, curtailing a US-Israeli regime-change effort, according to Al-Monitor

➡️ In a recent interview with Iranian journalist Javad Moghouei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi highlighted Turkey's "effective" role in thwarting the plot

➡️ Turkey reportedly threatened to provide air support to Iran if Kurdish forces joined a Mossad-backed ground operation, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan

The Persian Gulf

🇧🇭 Iran has mostly targeted Kuwait and Bahrain:

➡️ Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet

➡️ Kuwaiti capabilities and facilities have been used by the US to launch operations targeting Iranian infrastructure. Kuwait have also provided substantial portions of its infrastructure and territory for the US military

🔴 If the conflict widens, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could again come under Iranian attacks with additional locations there potentially becoming targets, whereas Qatar and Oman "may also face consequences" if they participate in US military efforts, WANA warns

The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait

🔶 Ansar Allah (the Houthis) has reportedly begun preparations for potential attacks on Saudi Arabia

🔶 The group has also reportedly begun mobilizing to pressure traffic through the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane

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