On the 28th of January, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Jordan conducted an air raid on a U.S. Military base which resulted in the death of 3 American soldiers. Injuring 40 more, the United States, under the Biden administration, retaliated by sending a series of airstrikes to Syria and Iraq on February 1st. However, such airstrikes were denied by the United States as their own, stating it was the work of the IRGC. All occurred during the time of the United States’ confrontation in Yemen, on the same day, American and British forces bombarded Houthi bases in Yemen. The attempt was to weaken the Houthis and to disrupt maritime shipping in the Red Sea. Further attacks are forecasted to occur, of which the Biden administration is refraining from directly attacking Iran, the country suspected responsible for the funding of the IRGC.
The interstate conflict between the United States and the Middle East poses a grave threat to the security of the United States’ foreign bases and territories. Yet, IRGC and the Huthis are independent groups. The IRGC is recognized by the United States as a terrorist group. On the other hand, the Huthis are rebels against the Yemen government, aiming to secure all of Yemen to govern for themselves. Notably, the Huthis are anti-American, Saudi, and Israel. Although these groups act independently, separate from their states, the states allow for the harbor of such groups. Furthermore, Iran is said to fund the IRGC, fueling the rising conflict between these Middle Eastern states with the U.S. The Intra-state aspect is notably the 2024 election occurring in the United States. Contradicting Trump’s restraint approach, Biden’s decision to engage in the Middle East was a ploy to remind the world the United States is the leading world power. Biden’s decision is projected to resonate only with Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans, which the Biden Administration hopes secures the election.
On an Individual level of analysis, the Biden Administration’s foreign policy aims to gain voter support through their foreign policy decisions in the Middle East. At the height of election season, the Biden administration must be seen with pristine foreign policy through the eyes of voters, for if there are significant faults, Biden could very well be out of office. Yet, regionally, the Middle East is harboring instability among the various independent groups, rebels, and terrorists, along with corrupt governments in the Middle East. The Middle East remains unstable, but will only continue due to the United States’ stance as a world police, fuelling the anti-american fire residing in the Middle East.