The recent extrajudicial (illegal in other words) killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani by the US in Iraq cannot be seen as anything but an act of international terrorism by the US government in targeting a person and a country that is not actively involved in a conflict with the US. Qassem was one of the key Iranian leaders in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and had worked with the U.S and other NATO forces during the battle of Tikrit in 2015

The geopolitical rationale for this latest act is not surprising, The U.S.A has had a policy of interfering in Iran dating back to the US-orchestrated coup in 1953 in response to the government's attempts to nationalise oil reserves. Following the fall of the US-backed Shah in 1979, the US adopted a policy of isolating Iran which has been a cornerstone of US involvement in the Middle East since and has escalated dramatically since the invasion of Iraq 17 years ago.



In the Syrian civil war (and the Iraqi civil war previously) the US and Iran backed opposite sides creating conflicts which in many regards were proxy wars however direct confrontation between America and Iran did not seem likely in the short term. In fact, even the Bush administration during its disastrous invasion of Iraq recognised that a confrontation with Iran at the time was not wise.



While a lot of the commentary is focusing on Trump's authorisation of the attack, which is no doubt short-sighted, was done without the support of the US Congress, and likely at least partially motivated by domestic concerns (similar to Thatcher's war in the Falklands) however it is broadly continuous with America’s long-standing policy in the region. It however also shows desperation on the part of American foreign policy, no doubt those in the Pentagon are acutely aware of the damage the war in Iraq and Syria has done to US strategic dominance in the region.



While still the major player, US hegemony in 2020 is not as guaranteed as it was in 2003. The failure of the US to create any sort of lasting beneficial stability in Iraq following the overthrow of Saddam trapped US forces in a military quagmire which created new threats to the people of the Middle East and more importantly (for America) their strategic interests. This also created opportunities for Iran and Russia to expand their influence as regional powers at America’s expense.



Two things in recent years show just how much ground the US has lost in the region. Firstly the failure of American backed rebels in Syria to oust the Russian backed government has shown the world that Russia sees itself as an emerging regional power, not quite of the same scale as the Soviet Union, and definitely not a threat to global capital but a significant block to US interests in the Middle East.



Similarly, Iran's involvement in both Syria and Iraq since the start of the Iraqi civil war has greatly enhanced their regional power while the US’s key European allies refusing to follow Trump’s decision to abandon the Iran nuclear deal not only created well-publicised tensions within NATO, and helped push European imperialist nations towards more EU military cooperation (another massively problematic issue). All of which increased the likelihood of a unilateral action such as this from America.



As expected as something such as this was in the current climate of American unilateralism and in the context of an emerging multipolar world it is still a reckless illegal action and must be condemned as such. The exact pattern of events in an evolving complex situation is difficult to predict, the death of the Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the leader of the Iraqi PMF militias in the attack on Quassan will no doubt heighten anti-American sentiment in Iraq with a strong chance that the Iraqi parliament will call for the removal of US troops, and increased tension and violence in Iraq.



Whether or not this escalates to a larger conflict depends on Iran's reaction, it is not likely that the illegal assassination of such a high profile figure will be ignored but it is also likely that Iran will not want to risk a ground invasion by American troops. As in the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq Iran will likely utilise its various proxy forces in their immediate response.



Regardless of how Iran responds the primary concern of all socialists and progressives in the West must be to oppose our government's involvement in US imperialism. The international community needs to stand firm against American attempts to manufacture yet another war in the Middle East, however as the illegal invasion of Iraq by Bush supported by Blair has shown us that other western leaders are more than happy to tolerate and assist American crimes in the region. This creates an onus on us to do what our governments will not and firmly oppose American interference in the Middle East.



In Ireland, our primary concern ought to be the US military’s use of Shannon airport as part of its military supply chain bring troops and weapons of war to the middle east. We must pressure the Irish government to end this shameful use of an Irish airport by US troops on their way to commit war crimes.



International solidarity is a fundamental part of republicanism it is our duty as republicans to do what we can to help the people of the middle east avoid suffering under another imperialist invasion.



By Brendán Ó Conchúir