Proxy relationship

In Iraq, Iran’s proxy militias open a third front in war against the US and Israel

BEHIND THE LINES: Statistics indicate that a determined Iranian and allied campaign is indeed underway in Iraq, making the country a third front in the current war.

|ByJONATHAN SPYER
FIRE RAGES outside the grounds of the US Embassy headquarters in Baghdad’s fortified ‘Green Zone’ earlier this week, following a drone and rocket attack according to security officials. Iraq was drawn into the Middle East war after having long been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran.
A Houthi protester with a poster of Ali Khamenei demonstrates amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, March 6, 2026

Iran war leaves Yemen's Houthis 'between a rock and a hard place' - analysis

Iran helped the Houthis for more than a decade, arming them with the know-how to build drones and ballistic missiles. Now, will the Houthis help their friends in Tehran?

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Houthi soldiers stand guard as people detained by the Houthis wait for their release in Sanaa, Yemen January 25, 2025.

IDF surprised by Houthis not joining Iran war, believes they still could, sources say

It was expected by many in the IDF that the Houthis would join in the attack once Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated.

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C) looks on prior to delivering a speech during a session of the UN Conference on Disarmament, on the sideline of a second round of US-Iranian talks with Washington pushing Tehran to make a deal to limit its nuclear programme, in Geneva, on February 17, 2026.

Iran sees 'good outlook' for talks with US as negotiating team heads to Geneva

The statement comes after Germany's foreign minister declared that Iran must end support for its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, advising the Iranians to engage "constructively" in Geneva.

|ByREUTERS

Jerusalem-Astana ties on upswing as Kazakhstan poised to join Security Council

The central Asian nation is interested, the officials said, in tapping into Israel’s experience with homeland security and border vigilance.

AUGUST 23, 2016ByHERB KEINON
A general view of Akorda, the official residence of Kazakhstan's President, in Astana, Kazakhstan.