Middle East

• Israel + Palestine:

  • US support for Israel with military and economic aid. Iran and other Arabian countries are openly hostile
• Israel + Palestine:

  • Iranian proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis
• Israel + Palestine:

  • Religious centre for many in Jurusalem
• Syria:

  • 2007 civil war - UN vote - Russian veto - is an ally
• Syria:

  • ISIS was dominate in Iraq and Syria. Assad opposed Isis so did the west
• Syria:

  • Assad fled to Russia following the rebel coellition overthrowing his government
• Syria:

  • Assad used chemical weapons on population
• Syria:

  • US, UK and France did humanitarian bombing - 3 targets. UK planes flew from Cyprus military base
• Afghanistan:

  • Taliban runs it
• Afghanistan:

  • US war on terror - 2001 to 2021 supporter by NATO
• Afghanistan:

  • Al Qaeda hid in Afghanistan
• Afghanistan:

  • USSR wanted it but failed to get it previously. US military fought a proxy war against them
• Iraq:

  • ISIS was in Iraq
• Iraq:

  • In 1990 Sadam invaded Kuwait - US ally
  • US and UK toppled Saddam Husein which caused a power vacuum and civil war.
• Iraq:

  • Iraq and Syria share Tigris and Euphrates. Turkey can control the flow with their dams. Water insecurity due to overabstraction
• Iraq:

  • Chemical and biological weapons used on population
• Iran:

  • Opposes Saudi Arabia and US + West
• Iran:

  • Wants to be major regional power
• Iran:

  • Russian ally
• Iran:

  • Under large sanctions by US. Uranium enrichment could be used for bombs
• Iran:

  • Lots of proxy groups - Hamas, hezbollah, Houthi
• Saudi Arabia:

  • Wants to be major regional power - supporter by US so they can remove themselfs
• Saudi Arabia:

  • Opposes Iran
• Saudi Arabia:

  • Large oil exporter - Aramco - largest company in 2023
• Saudi Arabia:

  • Involed in Civil war in Yemen - fighting Houthi in Yemen using US weapons - innocent people killed
• Saudi Arabia:

  • Links to terrorist groups - Bin Laden was Saudi Arabian
• Saudi Arabia:

  • US arms deal - $350b
• Abraham accords 2020 - Israel, Bahrain, UAE. Accept Israel is a country
• Why are superpowers in the middle east:

  • Securing resources and energy security
  • Supporting allies
  • Economic links
  • International peace broker
  • Making sure trade routes are secure
  • Cultural links