"Iran Is Determined To Have A Land Corridor To Beirut" Topic

"The town of Ba'aj is deserted and broken. Its streets are blocked by overturned cars, its shops are shuttered and the iron gates of its ravaged homes groan in a scorching wind.

Amid the wreckage, though, are the signs of new arrivals – forces who less than a week earlier chased Islamic State (Isis) from one of its most important territories in northern Iraq.

Spraying graffiti and planting their battle colours, they have wasted little time in staking their claim to a place that had mattered little in the sweep of Iraq's modern history, but which is set to be pivotal from this moment on…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Yep, thats a given. Thats why Iran supports Assad.

And China supports Iran and NK.

Dan

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

The US has various allies in the ME including Israel and Saudi Arabia, but Russia and China have little to no influence at all in the region. Russia's support of Assad is a desperate attempt to maintain a tenuous toehold in the region. Other than Syria, the only countries that Russia might have some influence with are Turkey and Egypt.

As for China, Iran is her ticket to the ME. Look at it in purely geopolitical terms. China isn't befriending Iran simply to stick it to the west. China (like the US and Russia) needs a foothold in the ME too and Iran provides her with the opportunity.