A Stark Warning From Washington
The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has brought about a great deal of discussion into the current war against Iran, stating that the military of his country can attack Iran’s bridges and electric power plants very soon.
In one of his tweets, he said, “The American military has not yet started to destroy what remains in Iran” and continued, “Next are Bridges, followed by Electric Power Plants” ().
Many people have expressed their concerns regarding this issue since it may suggest that the war may now take a new and unpredictable turn.
“This is definitely an escalation in both words and actions,” commented one geopolitics analyst.
From Military Targets to Infrastructure
However, until recently, the strikes by the United States concentrated primarily on military facilities, missile sites, and logistics centers. With respect to the recent announcements made by Trump, the strategy employed has undergone a certain evolution, targeting infrastructure designed for civilian and military usage alike.
Indeed, according to US representatives, bridges are included in the list of infrastructure that assists in the transport of weaponry and other military operations. Yet the critics claim that more and more frequently it is becoming challenging to distinguish the two types of infrastructure.
“Proportionality is a serious issue here,” said a Professor of International Law. “Electricity grids impact millions of civilians.”
Iran Responds With Defiance
However, the Iranian administration has flatly refused to bow down to such threats, arguing that any kind of assault on its infrastructure does not lead to its defeat.
“We only become more determined in the face of an attack on our infrastructure,” one of the Iranian delegates stated. “That does not solve our problem.”
In fact, Iran still continues its missile strikes and other activities in the region, suggesting that the strategy adopted by the US has not led to the expected نتائج.
As one analyst put it, this trend follows a larger pattern.
“Escalation appears to have strengthened Iran’s resolve,” a Middle East expert explained.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Trump’s declarations have caused worry amongst many legal experts and human rights activists, who feel that such attacks on civilian infrastructures can amount to violations of international law.
As per the Geneva Convention, bombings must distinguish between military and civilian targets and avoid any excessive attack on civilians.
“Electricity plants and bridges can fall under the ambit of protection until it is determined that these installations are only military targets,” stated a lawyer.
Legal experts have increasingly begun to voice their opinion that such actions can amount to war crimes if they do not adhere to international law.
“It goes beyond just strategy,” said the lawyer. “There are serious legal implications here.”
A Strategy of Pressure
It would seem that now the administration hopes to leverage its threat to attack Iran’s infrastructure in order to force it into negotiations.
Indeed, as Trump pointed out, the matter is simple and can easily be resolved quickly should Iran agree to satisfy the demands of the U.S.
“‘Their people know what must be done and done soon’ was Trump’s comment on Twitter,” says Trump’s post.
Supporters believe that such actions might help reach an agreement faster.
“What this is about is creating urgency,” said a policy expert. “We hope that Iran will come to the negotiating table.”
Risks of a Broader Conflict
Extending the assault to a wider conflict may reduce the chances of regional warfare.
An assault on the infrastructure could lead to an assault not only from Iran itself but even from its allies across the entire region.
“The stage that we’ve now reached is the point where escalation may spiral out of control,” said one military strategist. “The stakes just keep rising.”
Oil routes, energy facilities, and possibly even other countries may become involved in the ever-worsening crisis.
“This goes well beyond containment,” the military expert added. “This has international ramifications.”
Courtesy Of Reza Saidianjileh ( Flickr CC0)Economic Shockwaves
The cost of crude oil has gone up because of fears that there will be a prolonged disruption in the supply chain. “The energy infrastructure plays an important role in this war,” said an economist. “Attacks on the infrastructure cause direct effects.”
Prices of fuel have been rising worldwide because of the war.
Restraint
There has been an adequate response to the statements by the President from his U.S. allies. “It is high time we cooled things down. Targeting civilians’ infrastructure will amount to very risky action,” stated the diplomat. Other nations were wary that actions such as these will jeopardize international laws and talks of peace.
“A lot is on the line both on the regional and international levels,” the diplomat said.
What Comes Next
The possibility of such threats becoming a reality remains in question; however, there have been indications of more strikes to come.
Even though no particular plan was revealed by the Pentagon, military activity in the region continues.
“We’re in an unpredictable situation,” said the defense expert. “It could swing either way at any time.”
Talks continue diplomatically, yet nothing much has been achieved from it.
A Turning Point in the War
This may prove to be a turning point in the ongoing conflict because it shows that a shift in approach is underway.
“This is entirely another ball game,” said the geostrategist. “This is raising the stakes considerably.”
Only time will tell whether this approach will result in an agreement or a further increase in tension.
A Dangerous Balance
The challenge facing decision makers as events progress is one of balancing military objectives against humanitarian and legal considerations.
“We stand now at a critical juncture,” said the legal scholar. “Decisions made now will reverberate for decades to come.”
In the case of Donald Trump, it might be possible that he will take heed of this advice and put additional pressure on bringing an end to the matter.
For everyone else, though, the concern is whether putting too much pressure could push things to the point of no return.
“An escalation of such magnitude is hard to undo,” continued the legal scholar.
By William Hernandez
Journalist for Vlixx Magazine, reporting on news from around the world, ensuring timely, accurate, and detailed information to keep the public informed and educated.
Sources:
Politico: ‘Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants!’ Trump threatens Iran’s civilian infrastructure
CNBC: Trump threatens to destroy Iranian infrastructure, saying its government ‘knows what has to be done’
Featured and Inset Image Courtesy of daniela Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Reza Saidianjileh Flickr Page- Creative Commons License
