(Newsweek) Seth J. Frantzman - Billboards commemorating the death of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani have mushroomed around the Middle East on the one-year anniversary of his death as a sign of Iran's influence in the region. This is an attempt by Iran to project influence by using a "martyr" to showcase its role in confronting America as part of Iran's "resistance." It is timed to coincide with a new U.S. administration about to take power in Washington. The U.S. and its partners have an uphill battle confronting this Iranian octopus astride the region. However, there is a silent majority in the region who have no clear affinity for the Iranian general - whether it is Kurds in Kirkuk, or average Gazans who have torn down Soleimani posters. Iran may have overplayed its hand. The writer is executive director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis.
2021-01-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive