As tensions over trade, Taiwan, technology, and global influence intensify, the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may determine the future balance of power between Washington and Beijing. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Sulaimani, Iraq | 13 May 2026 — Kurdish Policy Analysis "We don't have permanent allies and we don't have permanent enemies, only our interests are permanent, and we have to follow them." – Henry John Temple. The root of the current Strait of Hormuz tensions is not only about shipping routes or oil prices, but also about the final collapse of the historical US concept towards Beijing. However, the 2025 National Security Strategy, released by the White House in November, says this was a historic mistake because China used the assets it accumulated to strengthen itself and compete with the West, not to become their partner. For many years, the United States alone maintained maritime security; The fifth US ship in Manama, Bahrain, worked only to keep o...
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Iran, proxies step up attacks on regional infrastructure, it’s multi-theater escalation
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Iran-Linked Strikes Hit Airports, Energy Sites and Cities Across Region in Escalating Wave of Attacks
March 24, 2026
Erbil — Iran and allied proxy groups continued coordinated missile and drone attacks across the Middle East targeting airports, energy infrastructure, military bases and residential areas between March 20 and March 23, according to a report by the Long War Journal.
The report said the wave of strikes was part of an ongoing pattern of escalation in which Iranian forces and aligned militias have expanded their operational reach beyond traditional battlefronts to multiple countries across the region.
Targets reportedly included civilian infrastructure such as airports and residential zones, alongside strategic assets including energy facilities and military installations. The strikes were dispersed across several states, reflecting what analysts describe as a multi-theater approach involving both direct and proxy actors.
An visual of Iranian attacks against Arab states on March 23, 2026.
Iranian-backed groups have increasingly used drones and short-range missiles in recent weeks, enabling them to strike distant targets while complicating attribution and interception efforts. Many of the incoming projectiles were reportedly intercepted by regional air defense systems, though some managed to cause damage and disruptions.
The Long War Journal, which tracks regional conflict dynamics, has documented a sustained campaign in which Iran and its network of allied militias have targeted facilities linked to both domestic governments and foreign military presence, particularly in Gulf Arab states and Iraq.
The report highlights that the scope of targets has broadened to include not only military installations but also economic infrastructure critical to energy production and distribution. Analysts say such targeting reflects an effort to apply pressure across both security and economic domains.
The escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions linked to broader geopolitical rivalries involving Iran, its allies, and opposing regional and international actors. The pattern of attacks has raised concerns among governments in the Gulf and beyond over the resilience of critical infrastructure and the potential for further spillover.
Air defense systems across the region have intercepted a significant proportion of incoming drones and missiles, but officials and analysts warn that the sustained tempo of attacks continues to strain defensive capabilities and emergency response systems.
The Long War Journal report forms part of a series of updates documenting near-daily exchanges of fire across multiple fronts, underscoring the increasingly complex and geographically dispersed nature of the conflict.
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