Continuing with their never-ending series of pretexts for a potential military attack on Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday he is willing to deploy the military if Iran tries to block the Baab al-Mandeb Strait, in the Red Sea.
The Red Sea Strait is a novel one to threaten Iran over, since it isn’t particularly near Iran, and Iran has never threatened it.. It is doubly strange because Saudi Arabia closed Baab al-Mandeb to oil ships just last week.
The Red Sea strait spans from Djibouti to southwestern Yemen. The Saudi military has been attacking the Houthis on Yemen’s Red Sea coast in recent weeks, but well further north. The closure came after the Houthis fired on a Saudi ship in the Red Sea.
Earlier this week, the US was also reported to be considering attacking Iran over the Saudis closing the strait. Here too, US press took the Houthis having fired on a Saudi ship, and dubious claims that the Houthis are tied to Iran, and concluded Iran attacked the ship. The Houthis have already announced a ceasefire in the Red Sea anyhow.
With so much of Israel’s regional foreign policy centering on threatening to attack Iran, it is unsurprising for such a threat to come from Netanyahu. The excuse, however, is laughably bad, and suggests this is just part of the routine background noise of Israel threatening Iran on any given day.
He speaks, of course, for the U.S. The IDF hasn’t got the wherewithal.
Mr.Rouhani, may I suggest the most appropriate course of action with regards to IsraEvil and the Empire of Darkness.
What you do is, first look those two satanic minions in the face… then with the palm of your hand facing you, you make a fist… then you slowly but surely open your middle finger.
Good suggestion, mate, suggesting Rouhani to first look into the faces of IsraEvil and the Empire of Darkness; then with the palm of his hand facing him, make a fist; then slowly but surely open his middle finger; that would certainly send the two satanic minions into a wild frenzy.
The Red Sea?
Iran?
Looking at a map, I’m wondering what kind of crack they’re smoking in Tel Aviv…
They have not smoked crack. They are 100% serious. It is also known as searching for a “casus belli”.
He probably says stuff like this because there is a good chance that FOX news will repeat it implying that Iran has threatened to close access to the Suez Canal.
Lately, Israel talks too much. Not sure of their supfemacy any more? Not sure US has the willpower to do its bidding? Needs to be reassured?
Why threaten with Bab Al-Mandeb? And — who is threatening? Threat is aimed at Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Saudi Arabia is dragging fert in Yemen, Evypt acting dumb. How to get them perk up and become Israel’s NATO. If Israel closes the straight, both Saudi and Egypt economies are toast Go against Iran or else. But how come suddenly Ethiopia, Erithrea and Somalia are buddies? And would Chinese military In Djibuti be quiet should Israel really try something. Saudi move was to signal Israel that they control the straights. Will US back up Israel or Saudi
Arabia. This is a game of shadows, nothing to do with Yemen. Israel talks too much. Trying to make friends by force. But it will nevdr be able to force anyone to love it.
It’s Bibzy Satanyahoo who talks too much, Bianca, his Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman’s been silent, while he blabs on. Perhaps, Saudi Arabia and Egypt don’t want an Arab NATO; they’ve seen what the original NATO’s turned into and want to stay out of it.
How come suddenly Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia are buddies, you say? And would Chinese military in Djibuti be quiet should Israel try something? You’re right, the Saudi move was to signal Israel that they control the straits, Will the US back up Israel or SA? I believe, SA. As you said, this is a game of shadows, nothing at all to do with Yemen. Bibzy talks way too much, trying to make friends by force; but Israel will never be able to force anyone to love it, even the US.
Good point. Lieberman is quiet. It is possible that Bibzy is domestically on political rocks, so he needs to ratchet up all internal and external hotspots — interestingly enough synchronized with US neocon version of the global order. And clear enough — both Democrats and Republicans are in the same corner. It is possible that Trump did everyone a favor by scrapping the deal. All those hiding behind “for” or behind “against” — have no place to hide. They have to scramble anew, costing dearly especially democrats that could have comfortably hidden behind “Obama” deal, without having to expose themselves as Bibzy’s nuts.
I am pretty sure Egypt and Saudi Arabia have no interest in Arab NATO, regardless of the “positive” attitude to US. The mere fact that Israel is sticking its neck out on the issue of Bab Al-Mandeb, shows some level of desparation. It cannot be comfortable for US to have its two strategic bases (Fifth Float, and Airforce base in two highly contested Gulf states. Bahrain can be maintained under control only by Saudi tanks, as its 80% Shia population is virtually under lockdown. And Qatar/Saudi spat looks as fake as a three dollar bill. Which puts US strategic airforce base next to Turkish base, and its grocery shopping in stores supplied by Iran. Every now and then an Iranian military visiting. Considering that Kuwait is 40% Shia, and UAE, in spite of its anti Iranian roar, has a higher volume of trade with Iran then Qatar. Oman is holding a perfect distance between Saudi and Iranian interests, Iraq is majority Shia country, Lebanon flipped to Shia-Christian alliance following the ISIS attrocities against Christians — and behold Jordan. With say iver 50% Palestinian population, it may surprise us all one day becoming a Palestinian state. Egypt has bigger fish to fry then get bogged down by Israeli-US agenda. It is sorking with China and Russia on an entirely bigger picture — Lybia included. Turkey and Iran are open allies, with Turkey sending message to US Congress — do you want to supply Turkey with gas for heating in the winter? If not, let us not complain about Iran. Iran is well integrated into Central Asia, and has rock solid relationship with China and Russia. Spending more of our money in George Soros projects organizing lame protests is a total waste. All in all — wanting to get Iran looked like a safe political proposition. Now it is exposed as feeble and not tought through. Trump is calling for talks. Sure, fhat was do e before. Iran may end up being Neocons and Israel’s Moby Dick.
Israel will start.Then orderTrump to follow