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Forum:
Issue:
rd
DisarmamentandInternationalSecurityCommittee(DISEC–UNGA1)
PreventingProxyWarsintheMiddleEast
StudentOfficer: NavyaMehta
Position:
DeputyPresident
Introduction
Introductiontotheagenda Aproxywarisaconflictbetweentwocountrieswheretheydonotengagedirectlyindirectcombat.
Itisbroadlydefinedasawarwherethemainactorsfaceconflictthroughmeansotherthanadirectwar,like
the use of external strife to attack the interests of a country. Proxy wars in the Middle East often involve
fighting the opposition’s allies, or providing ammunition and support to rebels within the opposition
country,orhelpingrebelsoperatingintheoppositioncountry’salliesetc.IntheMiddleEast,themajorproxy
wars exist at several fronts. In the Israel – Palestine conflict, the Hamas which has shared close links and
receivedfundingfromIranhasbeenusedasanon–stateactortofacilitateIran’sproxywaragainstIsrael.
HamasgrewinGazaafterIsraelpulledoutin2005andtherehavebeenseveralconflictsbetweenIsraeland
the Hamas, facilitating the larger proxy war between Iran and Israel, as Iran accuses the latter of human
right offences against Palestinians. Within Syria, the larger fissures in the region between Iran and Saudi
Arabiaalsoplayintothisconflictathand.WithSaudiArabiabeingtheleaderoftheSunniMuslimfaithand
IranbeingtheleaderoftheShiaMuslimfaith,aproxywarbetweenthesetwocountriesweavesitselfinto
existing conflicts within the Middle East. As for the Syrian Civil War, the Shiite Assad regime is currently
funded by Iran and is supported by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah. The Sunni Free Syrian Army receives varying
levels of support from Saudi Arabia. Other insurgents in the region belonging to the Sunni faith have also
beenreceivingaidfromSaudiArabiawhichisastrongsupporterforIslamicfactions,includingtheIslamic
Front1,Jaysh–al–Fath,Ahrar–al–Sham,aswellastheJaysh–al–Islamrebelalliances.Asdefinedbefore,
countriescanfundoppositiongroupswithintheopposingcountryoritsalliesinaproxywar.OntheIraqi
front,therehavebeenspeculationsthatmembersoftheSaudiArabiangovernmenthaveprovidedfinancial
supporttothe Sunni oppositiongroups1withinIraqto directlyattack theShiiteIraqi governmentbacked
byIran.
1
Dark, Edward. “Syrian FSA fades in shadow of Saudi-backed opposition front - al-monitor: The pulse of the middle east.”
Editorial. Al-Monitor, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2016. < http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/12/syria-fsaislamic-front-geneva-ii-jarba.html#>
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Figure 1: The Maghreb and Orient Courier showing the proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia
2
YemenalsofacesacivilwarbetweenthegovernmentofHadiandaShiainsurgencyintheNorth–
Western region of the nation. The government of Saudi Arabia has built up a military alliance (Operation
DecisiveStorm3)whichrecentlyended.SaudiArabiahasalsobegunabombingcampaignovertheHouthis,
whileIranhassteppeduptosupporttheHouthis4,creatingaveryvolatileconditionintheregionsaround
thebordersofthecountry.
2
IMAGE ABOVE: Pène, Emmanuel. “ARAB WORLD MAPS – A proxy war in the middle-east.” The Maghreb and Orient
Courier. 24 Oct. 2015. Web. 8 Apr. 2016. <http://lecourrierdumaghrebetdelorient.info/arab-world-maps/arab-world-maps-aproxy-war-in-the-middle-east/#prettyPhoto>
3
Abbas, Faisal J. “Why “Operation: Decisive Storm” Was Needed in Yemen.” Huffington Post 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 8 Apr.
2016.
< http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-operation-decisive-st_b_6952894.html?section=india>
4
Bayoumy, Yara, and Mohammed Ghobari. Iranian support seen crucial for Yemen’s Houthis. Reuters, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 8
Apr. 2016. < http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-houthis-iran-insight-idUSKBN0JT17A20141215>
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IntroductiontoDISEC’smandatewithrespecttotheagenda
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Quoting Article 11 Clause 1 of the Charter of the United Nations, “The General Assembly may
consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security,
including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments”. With the specific
referencetothemaintenanceof“internationalpeaceandsecurity”,itisimperativethattheDISECisusedas
a multilateral forum for the prevention of proxy wars since the use of opposing powers and mercenaries
used to spark such proxy wars poses a direct threat to the security and geopolitical balance in the Middle
East. When dealing with proxy wars in the Middle East, DISEC’s role, as defined in Chapter 4 of the UN
Charter,shallextendtotheregulationofincreasedammunitionprovidedtonon–stateactors(proxies)to
executeproxywarswhichhaveledtoanincreaseinthelength,intensityandscaleofarmedconflicts.Under
Article13oftheUNCharter,theDISECistaskedwithaddressingissuesthat“endangerinternationalpeace”,
whichisimportanttoaddressthepossibleinfringementofterritorialinterestsofnationswhichisnormally
achievedthroughtheutilizationofexternalstrifebynationsinaproxywar.DISEC,underitsmandate,can
use its existing partnerships with the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and the UN Disarmament
Commission to SUGGEST/ RECOMMEND improvements to the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration(DDR)strategyusedbytheUNPKFtosustainablyestablishpeaceinconflictzones.
DefinitionofKeyTerms
MiddleEast
The Middle East is a transcontinental region centered on Western Asia that includes the countries of
Bahrain,Cyprus,Egypt,Iran,Iraq,Israel,Jordan,Kuwait,Lebanon,Oman,Palestine,Qatar,SaudiArabia,
Syria,Turkey,UnitedArabEmiratesandYemen5.
Proxywar
Aproxywarisaconflictbetweentwonationswhereneithernationdirectlyengagesincombatwiththe
other. It relies on the two nations using external strife to attack the territorial holdings or other
interestsoftheopposingcountry6.
Proxies
Aproxyisanagentororganizationorderedtoactforanotherpersonorbody.Inproxywars,aproxy
referstotheorganizationusedbyacountrytoconductorexecutethewaragainsttheopposingcountry.
5
6
Central Intelligence Agency, The CIA World Factbook, Web. 28 May 2016
war, proxy. What does proxy war mean? 2001. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/proxy+war>
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OperationDecisiveStorm
Operation Decisive Storm refers to the military intervention conducted by Saudi Arabia along with a
coalition of 9 countries to attack the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are allied to Iran. It was a military
interventionthatlasted3weeksand6days,from26Marchto21April20157.
Hezbollah
HezbollahisaShi’aIslamistmilitantgroupoperatingfromLebanon8thathasbeenfundedandarmedby
the Islamic Republic of Iran9. This organization has served as Iran’s proxy in the iran – Saudi Arabia
proxywar.
IslamicFront
TheIslamicFrontisaSunniIslamistrebelgroupinvolvedintheSyrianCivilWar.Itwasformedbythe
mergerofsevenseparategroupson22November201310,andthisgroupiswidelyseenasbackedand
armedbytheKingdomofSaudiArabia11.IthasservedasSaudiArabia’sproxyintheIran–SaudiArabia
proxywar.
Jaysh–Al–IslamRebelAlliances
Jaysh–Al–IslamisacoalitionofIslamistandSalafistunitsinvolvedintheSyrianCivilWar.Ithasbeen
armedandbackedbySaudiArabia12andhasplayedamajorroleintheIran–SaudiArabiaproxywar.
Hamas
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist organization that has a military wing and has had
increasedandgrowingpresenceintheGazaStrip.IthasbeenfundedbyIran,ofover$30million13in
thestartofthe21stcentury,andhasbeenanimportantproxyforIranintheIran–Israelproxywar.
7
“Saudi ‘Decisive Storm’ wages to Save Yemen”. Al Arabiya English. 25 March 2015. Web. 28 May 2016.
<http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/03/26/GCC-states-to-repel-Houthi-aggression-in-Yemen-statement.html>
8
Laub, Zachary, and James McBride. Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu’llah). Council on Foreign Relations, 3 Jan. 2014.
Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.cfr.org/lebanon/hezbollah-k-hizbollah-hizbullah/p9155?breadcrumb=%2F>
9
BBC. “BBC News - Who Are Hezbollah?” BBC Middle East 4 July 2010. Web. 28 May 2016.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4314423.stm>
10
Editorial, Reuters. Six Islamist factions unite in largest Syria rebel merger. Reuters, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 28 May 2016.
<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-islamists-merger-idUSBRE9AL0I420131122>
11
“Syrian FSA fades in shadow of Saudi-backed opposition front - al-monitor: The pulse of the middle east.” Editorial. AlMonitor, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/12/syria-fsa-islamic-frontgeneva-ii-jarba.html>
12
Oweis, Khaled Yacoub. Insight: Saudi Arabia boosts Salafist rivals to al Qaeda in Syria. Reuters, 1 Oct. 2013. Web. 28
May 2016. <http://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-jihadists-insight-idUSBRE9900RO20131001>
13
Marsh E.Burfeindt, 'Rapprochement with Iran', in Thomas A. Johnson (ed.),Power, National Security, and Transformational
Global Events: Challenges Confronting America, China, and Iran, CRC Press, 2012 pp.185-235 p.198.
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BackgroundInformation
Proxy wars in the Middle East have continually threatened the territorial sovereignty of several
nationsandhasquestionedtheregionalgovernmentalpoliciesandinstitutions.Thetwomajorproxywars
that shall be explored in detail in this section are the Iran – Israel proxy war and the Iran – Saudi Arabia
proxywar.
Iran–IsraelProxyWar
TheIran–IsraelProxyconflictreferstotheindirectconflictbetweenIranandIsrael.Ithasstemmed
fromtheSupremeleaderofIran’spoliticalviewsabouttheIsraelandPalestineconfrontation,aswellasthe
concernsoftheIsraeligovernmentaboutthetransferofammunitionandweaponsbyIrantoitsproxiesnear
Israel’s borders. This proxy war has two overarching aspects to discuss: Iran’s funding and backing of the
HamasandthesubsequentHamas–Israelconflicts,aswellastheconcernsraisedbyIsraelwithrespectto
Iran’snuclearprogram.TherehavealsobeenconflictsbetweenIsraelandtheHezbollah.
Iran’sfundingtotheHamasandthesubsequentHamas–Israelconflicts
IranhasprovidedmultitudesoffundingandammunitiontotheHamasoperatinginPalestine.Inthe
Israel–Palestineconflict,theHamaswhichhassharedcloselinksandreceivedfundingfromIranhas
beenusedasanon-stateactortofacilitateIran’sproxywaragainstIsrael.HamasgrewinGazaafter
Israel pulled out in 2005 and there have been several conflicts between Israel and the Hamas,
facilitating the larger proxy war between Iran and Israel as Iran accuses the latter of human right
offences against Palestinians. In the words of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian
National Authority, “Hamas is funded by Iran. Iran provides the Hamas with military weaponry14.
Technologies provided include the Fajr – 5, M – 75 and M – 302 rockets15, as well as drone
technologies”.AftertheGazaWar,theIsraeliAirForceretaliatedagainsttheHamasbycarryingout
airstrikesagainsttheammunitionconvoytravellingthroughSudanthatwassupplyingarmaments
fromIrantoHamas16.IsraelalsosunkashipcarryingammunitionintheRedSea,henceaimingto
reduceammunitionsupplytotheHamas.On15March2011,IsraelseizedashipfromSyriathatwas
bringingIranianweaponstoGaza17.Hence,Israelhascontinuouslymanagedtosuccessfullyintercept
Hamas’sammunitionchannels,whichhassloweddownthegrowthofHamas.
14
Horowitz, Richard. Why is Iran shipping arm to Hamas and Hezbollah? The Blaze, 9 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 May 2016.
<http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/why-is-iran-shipping-arm-to-hamas-and-hezbollah/>
15
Segall,Michael.“Iran:TheregionalpowerbehindtheHamaswareffort.”Iran.JerusalemCenterForPublicAffairs,15July
2014.Web.28May2016.< http://jcpa.org/article/iran-the-regional-power-behind-the-hamas-war-effort/>
16
Service,Haaretz,andTheAssociatedPress.Report:Israelcarriedout3attacksonSudanarmssmugglers.Haaretz.com,28
Mar. 2009. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.haaretz.com/news/report-israel-carried-out-3-attacks-on-sudan-armssmugglers-1.273055>
17
KATZ,YAAKOV.NavyinterceptsshipwithIranianarmsboundforHamas.TheJerusalemPost|JPost.com,15Mar.2011.
Web.28May2016.<http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=212234>
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Israel’sconcernsaboutIran’sNuclearProgram
Israel feels threatened by Iran’s nuclear program and hence, as part of the ongoing proxy war, has
conductedseveraloperationstohinderandadverselyaffectIran’songoingnuclearprogram.Officials
from the United States government confirmed that the Israeli government provided training and
support to a proxy – the People’s Mujahedin of Iran18, to assassinate Iranian nuclear scientists
involvedinIran’snuclearprogram.ThiswasmeanstoslowdownandhampertheefficiencyofIran’s
nuclearactivity.Theseattacksincludedkillingofparticlephysicistsaswellasnuclearscientistsby
the use of gunmen as well as explosive devices. On 29 November 2010, Majid Shahriari, a senior
Iranian nuclear scientist was killed when a bomb strapped to his car was remotely detonated.
Explosions were also reported at nuclear facilities in Isfahan. Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a chemistry
expert and a director at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant in Central Iran was killed by two
gunmenonmotorcycleswhoattachedmagneticbombstohiscar19.Apartfromtheassassinationsof
Iranian nuclear scientists, Israel has taken several other steps in order to slow down and hamper
Iran’s nuclear program as part of the proxy war. One of these measures in the Stuxnet virus
developedbyIsraeltoattackIraniannuclearfacilities,inparticulartheNatanzfacility.Accordingtoa
studyconductedbytheInstituteofScienceandInternationalSecurity,theStuxnetvirusisexpected
tohaveaffectedaround1000centrifuges20,whichconstitute10%ofthecentrifugesinstalledatthe
Natanzenrichmentplant.
ConflictsbetweenHezbollah(Iran’sproxy)andtheStateofIsrael
One of the first instances when Iran used Hezbollah against Israel was during the 2006 Lebanese
War,whereunprecedentedfundingandammunitionfromIrantotheHezbollahledtotheHezbollah
having possession of medium – range as well as long – range missiles and anti aircraft missile
systems. From 2006 to 2016, Iran has helped strengthen the Hezbollah as the Hezbollah now
possessesover100,000longdistancerockets(asopposedto13,000in2006)aswellasnewantitank
weaponry and coastal defense systems21. In the aftermath of the 2006 conflict, the Israeli Defence
Forceshavealsoimprovedtheirinfrastructure,withenhancedgroundmaneuvercapabilitiesaswell
as intelligence and striking firepower. These improvements to both sides have led to the conflict
betweenHezbollahandIsraelgettingmoreintense,whichhasintensifiedtheIran–Israelproxywar
itself. On 18 January 2015, Israel attacked a Hezbollah convoy which has present in Golan Heights,
18
Marizad,Mehdi.IsraelteamswithterrorgrouptokillIran’snuclearscientists,U.S.OfficialstellNBCnews.NBCNews,9
Feb. 2012. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/02/08/10354553-israel-teams-with-terrorgroup-to-kill-irans-nuclear-scientists-us-officials-tell-nbc-news>
19
Meikle, James. “Iran: Timeline of Attacks.” The Guardian 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 28 May 2016.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/11/secret-war-iran-timeline-attacks
20
Albright,David,PaulBrannan,andChristinaWalrond.DidStuxnetTakeout1,000CentrifugesattheNatanzEnrichment
Plant? N.p.: Institute of Science and International Security, 2010. Web. 28 May 2016. http://isis-online.org/uploads/isisreports/documents/stuxnet_FEP_22Dec2010.pdf
21
White,Jeffrey.“Awarlikenoother:Israelvs.Hezbollahin2015.”TheWashingtonInstitute.29Jan.2015.Web.28May
2016.<http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/a-war-like-no-other-israel-vs.-hezbollah-in-2015>
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hencekilling6topHezbollahleaders22.TheIsraeliAirForcealsoattackedHezbollahcamps23inthe
Al – Qalamoun region of Syria. In October 2015, Israeli aircrafts continued to attack Hezbollah
targets24intheSouthernregionofSyria,closetotheLebaneseborderwhichledtothedestructionof
a weapons convoy25destined for the Hezbollah camp. Hezbollah has also retaliated, by firing anti
tankmissilesatIsraelimilitaryconvoys26in2015.Hence,theconflictbetweenHezbollahandIsrael
hascontinuouslybeenescalatingduetoincreasedammunition.
Iran–SaudiArabiaProxyWar
IranandSaudiArabiaareleadersoftwoopposingMuslimfaiths.WithSaudiArabiabeingtheleader
oftheSunniMuslimfaithandIranbeingtheleaderoftheShiaMuslimfaith,aproxywarbetweenthesetwo
countriesweavesitselfintoexistingconflictswithintheMiddleEast.Iranhasuseditsproxies–Hezbollah,in
particularaswellasitsalliedgovernments,likeSyriatoexecuteitsproxywaragainstSaudiArabia.
Iran–SaudiArabiaProxyWarintheContextoftheSyrianCivilWar
TheIran–SaudiArabiaproxywarhasintegrateditselfintotheSyrianCivilWar,asIranandSaudi
Arabia support opposing parties in the Syrian conflict. Saudi Arabia has supported several rebel
factions like the Islamic Front that are fighting against the Assad regime, while Iran supports and
aidstheAssadgovernment.Hence,theproxywarbetweenthetwocountrieshasintensifiedaseach
country has been strengthening the parties they support in the Syrian civil war. Iran and Syria are
close allies and hence Iran has provided significant amount of support to the Assad regime which
includeslogistics,financeaswellastechnicalsupport.TheIranianRevolutionaryGuardisalsosaid
to have provided training to Syrian troops. This extensive support and help has come after the
Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei’s statement in 2011, when he was vocal about extending
support to the Syrian government in times of crisis27. Iran has also offered military support by
trainingNationalDefenceForces(NDF)inSyria28.IranhasalsousedLebaneseHezbollahfighters29
22
Sharon,Jeremy.Report:SixIranianskilledinIsraelistrikeinSyria,includingrevolutionaryguard’sgeneral.TheJerusalem
Post | JPost.com, 19 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Report-Six-Iranians-killedin-Israeli-strike-in-Syria-including-Revolutionary-Guards-general-388210>
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Issacharoff,Avi.“IsraelReportedlyHitsHezbollah,AssadTargetsinSyria.”TimesofIsrael25Apr.2015.Web.28May2016.
<http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-reportedly-hits-hezbollah-assad-targets-in-syria/>
24
“Report:IsraeliairforceattackedHezbollahtargetsinSyria.”TheJerusalemPost|JPost.com,31Oct.2015.Web.28May
2016.<http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Report-Israeli-Air-Force-attacked-Hezbollah-targets-in-Syria-430616>
25
OKBI,YASSER,andMAARIVHASHAVUA.“HezbollahweaponswarehouseswerethetargetofWednesday’sIsraeliairstrikes
inSyria.”TheJerusalemPost|JPost.com,12Nov.2015.Web.28May2016.<http://www.jpost.com/Arab-IsraeliConflict/Hezbollah-weapons-warehouses-were-the-target-of-Wednesdays-Israeli-airstrikes-in-Syria-432840>
26
Casey, Nicholas, and Raja Abdulrahim. “Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Attack Claimed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.” The Wall
Street Journal 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-strikes-syrian-army-artillery-posts1422433830>
27
Fulton,Will,JosephHolliday,andSamAyer.IranianstrategyinSyria.InstitutefortheStudyofWar.Web.29May2016.
<http://www.understandingwar.org/report/iranian-strategy-syria>
28
Hakim, Yalda. “Iran’s Secret Army, our world - BBC News Channel.” BBC. 2 Nov. 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03hdf8f>
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toprovidemilitaryassistancethatAssadneededtofightopposition.AccordingtoStaffandeMistura,
the United Nations envoy to Syria, the Iranian government spends close to 6 billion USD on
supportingandaidingtheAssadregimeandmaintainingtheSyriangovernment.Itwasfurthernoted
thatIranprovidedover$9billiontoSyriatoallowittosurviveduringsanctions,andhasalsofuel
and warships to Syrian ports to help the Assad government. A panel set up by the United Nations
wasalarmedinMay2012bytheincreasedamountsofammunitionthatwerebeingtransportedto
Syria30– Turkish authorities had discovered and seized a truck full of detonators, machine guns as
well as 60mm and 120mm mortar shells that are believed to be destined to Syria. According to a
report by the CNN, Iran allegedly provided Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to help guide Syrian
governmentfightersandthereforehelpAssaddestroyrebelpositions.
The Senior Personnel involved in Iran's support extended to the Assad government
29
Saul, Jonathan, and Parisa Hafezi. Iran boosts military support in Syria to bolster Assad. Reuters, 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 29
May2016.<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-iran-idUSBREA1K09U20140221>
30
“Iran ’sending arms to Syria despite ban’.” Al Jazeera English. 17 May 2012. Web. 29 May 2016.
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/05/20125175553158930.html>
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(supported by Saudi Arabia)
(supported by Iran)
(supported by Iran)
(supported by Iran)
Situation in Syria and Iraq (as a result of the Iran – Saudi Arabia proxy war)
InresponsetoIran’ssupporttotheAssadregime,SaudiArabiahasalsosteppedupitscontributions
to rebel factions within Syria who are fighting against the Assad government. These rebel factions
supportedbySaudiArabiaincludetheIslamicFront31,Jaysh–al–Fath,Ahrar–al–Sham,aswellas
the Jaysh – al – Islam rebel alliances. Saudi Arabia has extensively armed and funded Syrian
opposition as part of its proxy war against Assad’s ally – Iran. Saudi Arabia has supplied several
IMAGE ABOVE: “File: Syrian, Iraqi, and Lebanese insurgencies.” Wiki Media Commons. 6 June 2015. Web. 4 June 2016.
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Syrian,_Iraqi,_and_Lebanese_insurgencies.png>
31
Dark,Edward.“SyrianFSAfadesinshadowofSaudi-backedoppositionfront-al-monitor:Thepulseofthemiddleeast.”
Editorial. Al-Monitor, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2016. <http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/12/syria-fsaislamic-front-geneva-ii-jarba.html#>
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infantryweaponsandantitankweapons32liketheM79OsasinceDecember2012.SaudiArabiawent
ontopurchaseM60recoillessriflesfromCroatiaandstartedsupplyingthemtorebelsthroughthe
Jordanianborder.ThesupplyonTOWmissiles33torebelsbySaudiArabiahashelpedrebelscapture
villagesintheHamaprovinceatunprecedentedrates.
Iran–SaudiArabiaProxyWarintheContextoftheYemenCivilWar
IranandSaudiArabiahaveintervenedintheYemenCivilWar,makingtheconflictinYemenanother
frontfortheirproxywar.WhileIransupportstheHouthirebels,SaudiArabiahasconductedseveral
military actions, like Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis. It was reported that the Quds
Force, an elite arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) was smuggling weapons
destined for the Houthi rebels34, which included AK – 47s, C – 4 explosives and rocket – propelled
grenades.InJanuary2013,weaponswereseizedfromashipoffthecoastofYemen–theseweapons,
destined for the Houthis, included surface – to – air missiles, as well as explosives with Iranian
markings on them35. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has remained supportive of the Hadi
government and hence conducted military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. This includes
OperationDecisiveStormin2015,whichincludedaseriesofairstrikestodestroyareascontrolled
bytheHouthis.AccordingtoAlArabiya,SaudiArabiacontributedover100warplanesand150,000
soldiers as part of Operation Decisive Storm. Along with the members of the Gulf Cooperation
Council (except Oman), Saudi Arabia led a series of air strikes conducted against civilian
infrastructure in Yemen, aimed at destroying Houthi strongholds36. The Royal Saudi Air Force has
beenextensivelyinvolvedinthetakingdownofHouthiairdefenses.Ithasalsodestroyednumerous
Houthi fighter planes, and hence secured most of Yemeni airspace. The Saudi Arabian military are
consolidating a wide no-fly zone37. The Saudi airstrikes have been targeting military compounds,
headquarters and weapons storage areas. These air strikes by Saudi Arabia have been effective in
counteringtheadvancesoftheHouthirebels,buttheincreasednumberofairstrikeshasalsoledto
Iran increasing and strengthening its support to the Houthis to counteract Saudi Arabian activity,
leadingtotheYemencivilwarbecomingmoreintense.
32
Chivers,C.J.,andEricSchmitt.“InShift,SaudisAreSaidtoArmRebelsinSyria.”TheNewYorkTimes15Aug.2014.Web.
29
May
2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/world/middleeast/in-shift-saudis-are-said-to-arm-rebels-insyria.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>
33
Saudi support to rebels slows Assad attacks: Pro-damascus sources. Reuters, 6 Nov. 2015. Web. 29 May 2016.
<http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0SV23O20151106>
34
Schmitt,Eric,andRobertF.Worth.“AidingYemenRebels,IranSeeksWiderMideastRole.”TheNewYorkTimes20Aug.
2014.Web.30May2016.<http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/world/middleeast/aiding-yemen-rebels-iran-seeks-widermideast-role.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1>
35
Reardon,Martin.“SaudiArabia,Iranandthe‘greatgame’inYemen.”AlJazeeraEnglish.26Mar.2015.Web.30May2016.
<http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/09/saudi-arabia-iran-great-game-ye-201492984846324440.html>
36
“Factbox:Saudi-ledcoalitionagainstYemen’sHouthis.”Reuters,10Apr.2015.Web.30May2016.
37
Almasy, Steve, and Jason Hanna. “Saudi Arabia Launches Airstrikes in Yemen.” CNN 26 Mar. 2015. Web. 30 May 2016.
<http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/25/middleeast/yemen-unrest/>
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Members involved in the Saudi Arabia - led Operation Decisive Storm against Houthi rebels in Yemen
According to military sources, rebel strongholds were destroyed by Saudi Arabia including the alDaylami airbase and the presidential complex seized by the rebels in January38. After destroying
Houthi ballistic and heavy weaponry, Saudi Arabia started Operation Restoring Hope where Saudi
ArabiaaimedtocontinuetheiraerialandnavalblockadeofareasclosetoHouthistrongholds.Within
Yemenitselfasthecivilwarrollsout,andHouthirevolutionariesandSunnitribesmenpreparefor
battle,theconflictislargerthanYemenitself,butisratheranotherfrontofaproxywarbetweenthe
leaders of two opposing Muslim faiths. Within Iran supporting the Houthis and Saudi Arabia
supporting Hadi, both Iran and Saudi Arabia continue to provided unparalleled amount of
ammunition and funding to the parties they support, leading to escalation of the conflict and
jeopardizingtheregionalorder,posingathreattoMiddleEasternsecurity.TheSupremeLeaderof
Iran sees an opportunity to make yet another Middle Eastern government his proxy, while Saudi
Arabia both fears Iran’s increasing sphere of influence and recognizes that Yemen is important for
SaudiArabiandominanceoftheoilmarket.
38
“Saudi and Arab allies bomb Houthi positions in Yemen.” Al Jazeera English. 26 Mar. 2015. Web. 30 May 2016.
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2015/03/saudi-ambassador-announces-military-operation-yemen150325234138956.html>
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MajorCountriesandOrganizationsInvolved
Iran
Iran is the leader of the Shia Muslim faith, and it has had a proxy war with Saudi Arabia,
whichhaswovenitselfintoseveralotherconflictsintheMiddleEast.Iranusestwoofitsproxies–
HezbollahandHamastoparticipateinitsproxywars.IransupportstheBasharAlAssadregimein
theSyrianCivilWar,byprovidingitweaponryandfunding,thusengaginginaproxywarwithSaudi
ArabiafundingtheIslamicFrontandotherrebelalliancesintheregion.Iranhasalsosupportedthe
HouthirebelsintheYemenCivilWarinterweavingitsproxywarwithSaudiArabiawhichisagainst
the Houthis. The proxy war took a dramatic turn when the Iranian Revolutionary Guards warned
SaudiArabiaof“harshrevenge”intheongoingconflict39.IranalsousestheHamasasatooltobeina
proxywarwithIsrael,byprovidingitlogisticalsupportandammunitionintheGazaStrip.
SaudiArabia
Saudi Arabia is the leader of the Sunni Muslim faith, and has engaged itself in a proxy war
withIran.SaudiArabiahasprovidedvariedlevelsoffundingandweaponrytotheFreeSyrianArmy
in the ongoing Syrian Civil War, hence engaging in a proxy war with Iran that supports the Assad
regime. Saudi Arabia is also rumored to have supported rebel fractions in Iraq, which includes the
Jaysh-al-Fath, Ahrar-al-Sham and the Islamic Front, engaging in a proxy war with Iran that is
supportingtheShiiteIraqgovernment.SaudiArabiahasalsoorganizedtheOperationDecisiveStorm
againsttheHouthisintheYemenCivilWar,henceengaginginaproxywarwithIranonanotherfront
in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has also been involved in Operation Restoring Hope40, which
continued a naval blockade around Yemen to prevent the Houthis stronghold regions from getting
ammunition and support from naval routes. Saudi Arabia also has growing concerns about the
IraniannuclearprogramanditspossibleimplicationsontheIran–SaudiArabiaproxywar.
Israel
Israel has been accused by Iran of gross human right violations in the Gaza Strip in the
ongoingIsrael–Palestineissue.AfterIsraelmovedoutoftheGazaStripin2005,theHamascameto
power in the region, with the intention of destroying the Jewish state of Israel. Hamas continued
receiving varied levels of funding and weaponry from Iran, hence putting Israel at war with the
Hamasatseveraloccasions,aspartoftheIran–Israelproxywar.IsraelandanotherofIran’sproxy–
Hezbollah have also had severe military confrontation. One of the most noticeable and prominent
39
Wilkin, Sam, and Angus McDowall. Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Iran as row over cleric’s death escalates. Reuters, 3 Jan.
2016.Web.2June2016.< http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-iran-fury-idUSKBN0UH00C20160103>
40
Banco, Erin. “Saudi ‘Operation Restoring Hope’ In Yemen Seeks To Restore Hadi To Power, Still Includes Airstrikes.”
International Business Times. 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 2 June 2016. <http://www.ibtimes.com/saudi-operation-restoring-hopeyemen-seeks-restore-hadi-power-still-includes-1892339>
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military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah was the 2006 War. After the war, there have
stillbeenfrequentartilleryshellbombingsandmissileattacks.TheIsraeliAirForceattackedcamps
and Hezbollah strongholds in Syria, most notably the Al -Qalamoun region. Israeli aircrafts
continued their offensive close to the Lebanese border which led to the destruction of a weapons
convoy41destined for a Hezbollah stronghold. Hezbollah has also retaliated, by firing anti tank
missilesatIsraelimilitaryconvoys42.
Yemen
Yemen currently faces a civil war between the supporters of the Hadi government and the
Houthirebels,aShiainsurgencyintheNorthWestregionofthecountry.Usingextensivefundingand
supportfromIran43,theHouthirebelswereabletotakeoverthegovernmentinstitutionsinSana’a,
leading to extensive conflicts between the Saudi Arabia backed Hadi government and the Iran –
fundedHouthirebels.Hence,YemenisanimportantfrontintheproxywarforbothIranandSaudi
ArabiaasbothdesperatelytrytoincreasetheirsphereofinfluenceintheMiddleEast.SaudiArabia
has collaborated with other Arab states to conduct air strikes and naval blockades against Houthi
strongholds, along with the execution and implementation of several military strategies including
Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restoring Hope. The proxy war has led to heightened
tensions in Yemen leading to large scale increase in the number of Yemeni civilian deaths as the
provisionofammunitionbyIranandSaudiArabiatothepartiestheybackhasintensifiedthewar.
The UN Special Rapporteur for Internally Displaced Persons Chaloka Beyani has accused Saudi
ArabiaofescalatingthenumberofciviliandeathsinYemen44duetoitsincreaseinthenumberofair
strikesaspartoftheproxywaragainstIran.
Syria
DuringtheArabSpring,protestorsinSyriademandedhumanitarianreform,whichledtothe
eventualformationoftheFreeSyrianArmy.Currently,theAssadregimeinSyriaisfundedbyIran
andsupportedbyIran’sproxy–Hezbollah.IranhasuseditsIranianRevolutionaryGuardCorpsto
providetrainingandcriticallogisticsupporttotheSyrianarmyunderAssad.Syriahasalsomaintain
tieswithIran’sproxyHezbollahinanattempttodestroyrebelfactions.Ontheotherhand,theFree
Syrian Army which has been fighting against Assad receives varying levels of funding from Saudi
41
OKBI,YASSER,andMAARIVHASHAVUA.“HezbollahweaponswarehouseswerethetargetofWednesday’sIsraeliairstrikes
in Syria.” The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com, 12 Nov. 2015. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.jpost.com/Arab-IsraeliConflict/Hezbollah-weapons-warehouses-were-the-target-of-Wednesdays-Israeli-airstrikes-in-Syria-432840>
42
Casey, Nicholas, and Raja Abdulrahim. “Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Attack Claimed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.” The Wall
Street Journal 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-strikes-syrian-army-artillery-posts1422433830>
43
Yara Bayoumy, Mohammed Ghobari, Iranian support seen crucial for Yemen’s Houthis. Reuters, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 3
June 2016. < http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-houthis-iran-insight-idUSKBN0JT17A20141215>
44
Lendman, Stephen. UN accuses Saudi Arabia of killing Yemeni civilians. Global Research - Centre for Research on
Globalisation, 9 Apr. 2015. Web. 3 June 2016. <http://www.globalresearch.ca/un-accuses-saudi-arabia-of-killing-yemenicivilians/5441962>
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Arabia. Saudi Arabia has also supported the Islamic Front operating within Syria, and hence the
Assad regime has faced intensified resistance and revolts from the rebels in Syria who have been
strengthened by Saudi Arabia. Hence, the Syrian Civil War is placed at the core of the Iran – Saudi
Arabia proxy war. The Syrian government shares diplomatic ties with Iran, but is currently being
crippled by the 4 year long Syrian Civil War, which caused the Assad regime to lose control over
large portions of the country. Syria is a very significant country as Iran finds it crucial to maintain
tieswithSyriatokeepitssphereofinfluencegrowingintheMiddleEast.
Iraq
IraqhasalsobeenattheforefrontoftheIran–SaudiArabiaproxywarasIransupportsthe
ShiiteIraqgovernment,whileSaudiArabiaisrumoredtohavefinancedandprovidedweaponryto
rebel Islamic factions like the Jaysh al-Islam rebels’ alliances. In Iraq, Saudi Arabia sensed an
opportunity to increase its sphere of influence by destabilizing the Iran supported government, to
subsequently reduce Iranian influence, to weaken Hezbollah in Lebanon, and as a consequence
started supporting rebel groups in Iraq. Iran retaliated in Iraq by continued to support the Iraqi
government by sending in members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Saudi Arabia
continued to enhance its source of funding and support to rebels and as a consequence it was the
peopleofIraqthatsufferedinthemiddleofthisproxywarontheIraqifront.AccordingtotheUnited
Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq, over 10,000 civilians have been killed45in Iraq from January to
May 2015 alone, as a result of the Iran – Saudi Arabia civil war. Hence, Iraq has been facing a
humanitariancostduetotheproxywartoo.
UnitedStatesofAmerica
TheUnitedStatesofAmericahasbeenextensivelyinvolvedwithSaudiArabiatoconductair
strikesandotheroperationsagainsttheSyriangovernmentofAssadaswellasagainsttheISIS.USA
hasprovidedvariedlevelsofsupporttotheFreeSyrianArmyandhencehassupportedSaudiArabia
in the conflict. The United States was also involved in the provision of non – lethal aid to Syrian
government’soppositiongroupsinSyria46,henceintensifyingthefightagainsttheBasharAlAssad
regime. It has provided training and other form of support to ‘moderate’ opposition groups in the
country in order to fight the Assad forces47. The United States was also involved in Operation
DecisiveStormbyprovidingintelligenceandlogisticalsupportfortheSaudiArabialedcampaignin
45
“Civilians continue to pay a heavy price due to terrorism, violence and armed conflict.” United Nations Assistance Mission
to Iraq. 3 May 2015. Web. 4 June 2016.
46
Landler,Mark.“U.S.ConsidersResumingNonlethalAidtoSyrianOpposition.”TheNewYorkTimes13Jan.2014.Web.4
June2016.<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/world/middleeast/syria-aid-may-resume-despite-fears-over-where-itwill-go.html?_r=0>
47
Plesser,Ben,AmmarCheikhOmar,andErinMcClam.“WhoAretheSyrianRebelstheU.S.WantstoArmandTrain?”NBC
News 19 Sept. 2014. Web. 4 June 2016. <http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/who-are-syrian-rebels-u-s-wantsarm-train-n207391>
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Yemen. It was involved in the extensive military and intelligence cooperation aimed at destroying
HouthistrongholdsintheYemenCivilWar.Hence,theinvolvementoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica
hasintensifiedtheproxywarbetweenIranandSaudiArabia,bysupportingSaudiArabia’smilitary
campaignsandpropositionsintheregion.
GulfCooperationCouncil
AllGulfCooperationCouncilmembersexceptOmanhavecollaboratedtogethertoplanand
executeOperationDecisiveStorm.Hence,theGCChasplayedanintegralroleinorganizingmilitary
activityagainsttheHouthirebelsintheYemeniCivilWarandhencehaveworkedsupportingSaudi
Arabia in the Iran – Saudi Arabia proxy war. All GCC members (except Oman) have contributed
military support to Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restoring Hope, with countries like
Jordan and Kuwait contributing 6 and 15 military jets for air strikes respectively. The Gulf
Cooperation Council, in the context of the Syrian Civil War, had formally recognized the National
Coalition of the Syrian Opposition48and hence recognized opposition rebels in 2012 that were
protestingandactingagainsttheBasharAlAssadregimeinSyria.So,theGCChassupportedSaudi
Arabiaextensivelyintheongoingproxywar,hencemakingtheconflictswithIranmoreintenseand
costlieronpoliticalandhumanitariangrounds.
Hezbollah
Hezbollah is one of the most important organizations when it comes to proxy wars in the
MiddleEast.HezbollahhasservedasaproxyforIraninallofIran’sproxywars.Hezbollahisaiding
the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in training and helping troops of the Assad government in
fightingtheSyrianoppositionrebels.HezbollahisalsoinvolvedintheproxywarbetweenIranand
Israel,byengaginginmilitaryencounterswiththeIsraeliDefenceForces.Oneofthemostmassive
militaryencountersbetweentheHezbollahandtheIDFwasthe2006LebaneseWar.Afterthesame,
bothpartieshaveupgradedtheirmilitaryinfrastructureandweaponssystems,engaginginseveral
crossfires, like when the IDF destroyed Hezbollah camps and warehouses and in retaliation,
HezbollahdestroyedanIDFmilitaryconvoy.
Hamas
Hamas has also served as one of Iran’s proxies and has involved itself in the Iran – Israel
proxywar.HamascametopowerintheGazaStrip,andhasreceivedammunitionandfundingfrom
IranforengaginginmilitaryactivityagainsttheStateofIsrael.Hamashasreceivedtechnologieslike
the M – 302 and M – 75 rockets from Iran, according to the President of the Palestinian National
Authority.
48
“Crisis in Syria.” International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect. 20 Dec. 2013. Web. 4 June 2016.
<http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/index.php/crises/crisis-in-syria>
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TimelineofEvents
Iran–IsraelProxyWar:
Date
Descriptionofevent
The Lebanese War between Iran’s proxy Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Force
2006
ends.Thisprolongedmilitaryconflictsawheavymilitarycrossfiresfrombothsides
of the conflict. This was one of the first major revelation of the proxy conflict
betweenIranandIsrael
June2006
TheHamasgraduallygrowsintheGazaStrip,andthefirstmajorGazaStrip–Israel
conflictoccurs
IsraelbecameincreasinglytenseovertheIraniannuclearprogramandthepossible
6September2007
effectofthisnuclearprogramontheproxywar.Hence,IsraeliAirForcedestroyeda
suspectedIraniannuclearplantinSyria,toaffecttheIraniannuclearprogram
Israel received a major breakthrough in the funding of the Hamas, when Israel
4September2009
managed to capture a ship in the Mediterranean Sea which was destined for the
Hamas,carryingweaponsandammunitionfromIrantotheHamas
Israel is believed to have made an advanced computer worm, the Stuxnet virus,
June2010
aimed at affecting and sabotaging nuclear centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment
plantinIran
Israel attempted to further sabotage the Iranian nuclear program, by ordering the
29November2010
assassination of senior Iranian nuclear scientists, which included Majid Shahriari
FereydoonAbbasi
15March2011
6October2012
5March2014
28January2015
25April2015
Major military crossfire occurred between the Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence
Forcesasbothfiredartilleryshellsandmissilesacrosstheborder
The Israeli Defence Forces shot down a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operated
byHezbollahovernorthernprovincesofIsrael
AnIranianshipcarryinglongrangemissilesandrocketstotheHamasinGazawas
interceptedbytheIsraelinavy
Hezbollah launched a major military offensive against Israel, using a anti – tank
missiletodestroyalargeIsraeliweaponsandmilitaryconvoyinNorthernIsrael
IsraellaunchedaseriesofattacksagainstHezbollahcampsandwarehousesinthe
AlQalamounregionofSyria
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Iran–SaudiArabiaProxyWarinthecontextoftheSyrianCivilWar:
Date
May2011
Descriptionofevent
Iran provided the Assad government with riot control equipment and intelligence
monitoringtechniquestobeabletocurbriotsfollowingtheArabSpringinSyria
The deputy head of Iran’s elite Quds Force mentioned that Iran was providing
May2012
logistical help and also training Assad’s troops in Syria. Iran also provided
Hezbollah’sfighterstoAssadtohelpinthecivilwar
The United Nations noted with concern that Iran was providing weapons and
May2012
ammunitiontotheAssadgovernmentinspiteofanarmsban,asTurkishauthorities
capturedcratesfilledwithmachineguns,explosivesanddetonatorsenroutefrom
IrantoSyria
September2012
December2012
The Iranian government sent senior members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Corps(IRGC)tohelptheAssadgovernmentinfightingrebelsandopposition
SaudiArabiaprovidedlargeamountsofammunitionandweaponstorebelfactions
inSyria,liketheIslamicFrontbychannelingitthroughsourcesinJordan
Iran provided contingent fighters to the Assad regime to support troops of the
June2013
Syrian government. Members of the elite Quds Force were also used in order to
coordinate attacks, train fighters and set up elaborate systems to monitor the
movementandcommunicationoftheopposingrebels
August2013
Saudi Arabia appointed Bandar Bin Sultan as the person – in - charge of leading
SaudiArabianeffortstotoppletheAssadgovernment
HezbollahcampsandwarehousesbegantogrowinSyria,andHezbollahstartedto
June2014
serve as an intelligence and strategic support proxy for Iran in helping the Assad
regime49
IranusedsupportfromtheRussiangovernmenttoenhancethemilitaryequipment
24July2015
available to the Assad government and hence strengthened the offensives against
theSaudiArabia–backedSyrianrebels.
November2015
SaudiArabiaprovidednewanti–tankmissilesandrecoillessgunstorebelsinSyria
inordertocombatnewgovernmentoffencesthatweresupportedbyIran
49
Jonathan Saul, Parisa Hafezi, Iran boosts military support in Syria to bolster Assad. Reuters, 21 Feb. 2014. Web. 6 June
2016. <http://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-iran-idUSBREA1K09U20140221>
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Iran–SaudiArabiaProxyWarinthecontextoftheYemenCivilWar:
Date
Descriptionofevent
WeaponswereseizedfromashipoffthecoastofYemen.Theseweapons,believed
January2013
to be destined for the Houthi rebels, included surface – to – air missiles and
explosiveswithIranianmarkingsonthem.
The Houthi rebels, aided by Iran’s supply of weaponry and funding, were able to
January2015
make significant advancements against the opposition, by capturing the Al –
DalyamiairbaseandthepresidentialcomplexinYemen.
Saudi Arabia started Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen, aimed at conducting air
26March2015
strikes to destroy Houthi strongholds in the region. This operation started with
Saudi Arabia leading a coalition of several states part of the Gulf Cooperation
Council,againsttheIranbackedHouthis.
Saudi Arabia continued its offensive against the Houthis rebels supported by Iran.
28March2015
SaudiArabiaconductedlargescaleairstrikesagainsttheHouthistrongholdsinthe
Ma’hib Governorate and the Abyan Governorate. The air strikes also attacked air
basesunderHouthicontrolnearSana’a.
30March2015
21April2015
SaudiArabia,alongwithEgypt,useditsnavytosupportOperationDecisiveStorm.
ThenaviesbombardedHouthipositionsduringtheHouthiadvancetowardsAden.
OperationDecisiveStormended.
Saudi Arabia announced the start of Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen, which
22April2015
triedtocontinueanavalblockadeagainstHouthiregions,eliminatetheHouthisand
reinstatetheHadigovernment
30April2015
Saudi Arabia is believed to have air dropped ammunition and arms to anti Houthi
fightersnearTaiz,tostrengthenitscombatagainsttheIran–backedHouthis
TheUnitedNationsdeclaredtheYemenCivilWarasa“levelthree”emergency,the
highest level of emergency assigned to a conflict. This declaration of the level of
1July2015
emergencycanbesaidtobebecausetheproxywarbetweenIranandSaudiArabia
in Yemen intensified the Yemen Civil War and led to higher humanitarian and
politicalcostsinYemen.
According to sources of the coalition, Saudi Arabia managed to capture an Iranian
26September2015
fishing boat off the coast of Yemen that allegedly contained weapons destined by
theHouthis.SaudiArabiaclaimsthatitfoundanti–tankshellsandlaunchers.
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RelevantUNTreatiesandEvents
TheUnitedNationshaspassedveryfewresolutionsthatdirectlyaimtocounterproxywarsintheMiddle
East.However,theUNhaspassedseveralresolutionsontheSyrianCivilWar,andtheYemenCivilWarin
singularity,thathavehadindirectlyhelpedtocurbdownthescaleofproxywarsintheregion.
UNResolutions:
•
TheSituationintheMiddleEast(Syria),26February2016(S/RES/2268)
•
TheSituationintheMiddleEast(Yemen),24February2016(S/RES/2266)
•
MiddleEast(Syria),22December2015(S/RES/2258)
•
Convention on the Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which
May Be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, 7 December 2015
(A/RES/70/71)
•
TheRiskofNuclearProliferationintheMiddleEast,7December2015(A/RES/70/70)
•
TheArmsTradeTreaty,7December2015(A/RES/70/58)
•
Conventional Arms Control at the Regional and Sub-regional Levels, 7 December 2015
(A/RES/70/44)
•
MiddleEast(Syria),7August2015(S/RES/2235)
•
MiddleEast(Yemen),14April2015(S/RES/2216)
•
MiddleEast,18December2014(S/RES/2192)
•
MiddleEast,25June2014(S/RES/2163)
•
ThreatstoInternationalPeaceandSecuritycausedbyterroristacts,27January2014(S/RES/2133)
•
Smallarmsandlightweapons,2013(S/RES/2115)
PresidentialStatements:
•
MiddleEast(Yemen),25April2016(S/PRST/2016/5)
•
MiddleEast,17August2015(S/PRST/2015/15)
•
ProtectionofCiviliansinArmedConflict,12February2014(S/PRST/2014/3)
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PreviousAttemptstosolvetheIssue
SeveralregionalmultilateralforumsliketheLeagueofArabStates,theGulfCooperationCounciland
theEuropeanUnionhavetriedtosolvetheissueinthepast.TheLeagueofArabStateshascollaboratedwith
theUnitedNationstolaunchaJointSpecialEnvoytodiscusspoliticalsolutionstotheSyrianCivilWar50and
toworktowardseliminatingtheproxiesthatareintensifyingthewar.TheJointSpecialEnvoyheldapeace
conferenceinJanuary201451,wheretheAssadregimeandproxies(supportedbyIran)werebroughtonthe
sametableasSyrianrebels(supportedbySaudiArabia)inanattempttodraftpeacefulsolutionsbetween
theproxiesinvolvedintheproxywar.TheEuropeanUnionhasalsoplacedarmsembargoes,visabansand
asset freezes against the Assad regime52to ensure that no supporter of the Assad regime receives
ammunitionandfunding,especiallyfromIranaspartoftheproxywar.However,manysourcesandchannels
offundingusedwentunnoticedandcouldnotbemonitoredbytheInternationalMonetaryFund,leadingto
theAssadregimeobtainingarmsandfunding,despitethebanbytheEuropeanUnion,whichprovedtobe
unsuccessful.DespitethebanbytheEuropeanUnion,theAssadregimecontinueditssourceofammunition
andtrainingfromtheIranianRevolutionaryGuardCorps,whichcouldnotbepreventedbytheinternational
community. Hence, most ammunition controls and fund monitoring has been ineffective as Iran and Saudi
Arabiahavebothbeenabletochannelfundsthroughbackchannels,ensuringthatthepartiestheysupport
receivefunding,irrespectiveofaninternationalbanonthesame.TheEuropeanUnionalsotriedtoprovide
non – lethal supplies to Syrian opposition and rebels53in an attempt to topple the Assad regime and
effectivelyendthecivilwaraswellastheproxywar.However,theprovisionofammunitionfailedtoendthe
proxywarbutinsteadmadeitmoreintenseasbothpartiesnowpossessedmoreadvancedweapons,leading
topoliticalandhumanitariancosts.Inthepast,theLeagueofArabStatesandtheGulfCooperationCouncil
havealsotriedtorecognizetheNationalCoalitionoftheSyrianOpposition54inabidtotrytoneutralizethe
increasedammunitionprovidedtotheAssadregimebyIran.TheUNSpecialAdvisorsonthePreventionof
Genocide also tied to end the proxy war in 2012, by trying to ask the international community to use the
Responsibility to Protect Doctrine (R2P)’s operational principles to eliminate the Assad regime and
effectivelyendtheIran–SaudiArabiaproxywarinSyria.However,manycountriesresortedtoairstrikesto
eliminate the Assad regime under the R2P, which led to a humanitarian catastrophe due to civilian
causalities,makingtheentireexercisecounterproductive.
50
“UNNews-Syria:UN-Arableagueenvoycallsonsecuritycounciltoagreeonresolutiontohelpendcrisis.”UnitedNations.
UNNewsServiceSection,5Nov.2012.Web.5June2016.
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43419#.V1PmQMfapol>
51
Kendall, Bridget. “Syrian Peace Talks Pedal Backwards.” BBC Middle East 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 5 June 2016.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26197693>
52
BBC, “Q&A: Syria Sanctions.” BBC Middle East 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 5 June 2016. <http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddle-east-15753975>
53
“EU arms embargo on Syrian opposition not extended.” The Guardian 27 May 2013. Web. 5 June 2016.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/27/eu-arms-embargo-syrian-opposition>
54
“Arab League recognizes Syria’s news opposition bloc.” Al Arabiya News. 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 5 June 2016.
<http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/12/249215.html>
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TheUNOfficeoftheHighCommissionerofHumanRightsalsotriedtoprovidesolutionstotheIran–
SaudiArabiaproxywarbymandatinganindependentCommissionofInquirytostudythedetoriatedhuman
rightsasaresultoftheproxywarinSyria,inordertobetterhelptheUNtomakeinformeddecisions.The
Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has been previously used by the United Nations to
monitortheproxywarintheSyrianArabRepublic.Thisteamwaspartlysuccessfulinitsendeavorasitwas
abletoreportallactsofviolenceconductedwithinSyria,whichallowedtheSecurityCouncilaswellasother
subsidiarybodiesoftheUNtodeliberateonwhichorganizationswereactingasproxiesintheongoingproxy
war.TheUnitedNationshasalsopreviouslyusedaUNDisengagementObserverForceforobservationand
reporting purposes about the proxy war in the Syrian Arab Republic, but even this initiative was rather
unsuccessful, with local extremist outfits even abducting and detaining peacekeepers part of the observer
force55. The United Nations Counter Terrorism Center has also taken numerous steps to ensure that
countries do not fund and use terrorist outfits as proxies in Middle Eastern proxy wars, through
internationalinitiativesliketheGenevaCommunique.Numerouspeacekeepingandpoliticalmissionsofthe
United Nations have been deployed in the Middle East, which have been used to aid in maintaining
ceasefires, and in advocating security, peace, and resolution of conflicts. While these missions are able to
influence political scenarios in willing nations, they have no power to force uncooperative states to take
particularcoursesofaction.Theyareunabletogivesecurityguaranteesorfinancialsupporttothemselves.
ThishasmadetheUnitedNationsunsuccessfulinpreventingproxywarsintheMiddleEast.
AsfordealingwiththeIran–SaudiArabiaproxywarintheYemenCivilWar,theUnitedNationshas
aidedtheformationofatruceinDecember2015totryandgettheHouthirebels(supportedbyIran)andthe
community loyal to Hadi (supported by Saudi Arabia) on the same table to create a peaceful talk56and
resolvedifferencestoensurethatboththesepartiesdonotactasproxiesagainintheIran–SaudiArabia
proxywar.However,thisinitiativewasnotsuccessful,astheUNSecurityCouncilexpressedconcernsabout
theviolationofthecessationofhostilitiescommittedduringthetalks57.Hence,thetalksorganizedwerenot
effective enough to address the proxy war in Yemen. For the Iran – Israel proxy conflict, the international
communityhastriedtodisarmtheHezbollahtopreventanymilitaryconfrontationbetweentheHezbollah
and the Israel Defence Forces. However, Iran’s continuous funding and provision of ammunition to the
Hezbollah have meant that any international arms supply regulations to reduce arms supply to the
Hezbollah have been ineffective. The UN Disarmament Commission and the UN Security Council has
requested Iran to halt funding of any extremist groups in the Middle East, but this request has been to no
avail,andIranhasnotceaseditsfundingtoanyoftheproxiesthatitusesintheMiddleEast.
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Letterdated5 September2013fromthePermanentRepresentativeoftheSyrianArabRepublic
Thomson,Jason.AsSaudi-IranianproxywarflaresinYemen,whathopeofpeace?TheChristianScienceMonitor,8Jan.
2016.Web.5June2016.<http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0108/As-Saudi-Iranian-proxy-war-flares-inYemen-what-hope-of-peace>
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“UN News - Yemen: Security council deeply concerned by cessation of hostilities’ violations.” United Nations. UN News
ServiceSection,23Dec.2015.Web.5June2016.<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52897#.Vo6-gpMrKi4>
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KeyIssues
Lack of monitoring of the sources of obtaining ammunition used by proxies like Hezbollah and
Hamas,includingobtainingammunitionfromthenationsinvolved
As mentioned earlier, most of these proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas are able to obtain weapons
andammunitionfromsourcesofweaponrythatareusuallynotmonitoredbytheinternationalcommunity.
Forexample,therewasanallegedIranianfishingvesseloffthecoastofYementhatwascarryingweapons
includingmissilesandexplosivesfortheHouthistouse.Eventhoughsuchinstancesmaynotbeconfirmed,
theyhinttowardsalargenetworkofaninternationalillegaltradeinsmallarmsandlightweaponsthatis
exploitedbytheseproxies.Hence,oneofthekeyissuesthatleadstothedevelopmentoftheseproxywarsis
thefactthatUNbodiesliketheUnitedNationsOfficeonDisarmamentAffairs(UNODA)havebeenunableto
track and monitor all possible sources of conventional weaponry available. This lack of control by the UN
allowsproxiestoexploitthesameandstrengthenthemselvesbyobtainingweaponryfromillegalsources.
Many proxies also obtain weaponry from the nations involved in the proxy war itself. For example, Saudi
Arabia was found to be supplying weaponry including anti tank missiles and recoilless guns to opposition
rebels in Syria, like the Islamic Front. Hence, the availability of ammunition to these proxies can also be
attributedtotheinabilityandinefficiencyoftheCounterTerrorismCommitteeandtheCounterTerrorism
Implementation Task Force (CTITF) to crack down on any instances of state – sponsored terrorism,
consideringthatmanyproxiesusedintheMiddleEastarerecognizedasterroristorganizationsbytheUN.
Lackoforderoranysortoflawenforcementinconflictregions,andpoorbordersecurity
In conflicts like the Syrian Civil War, with the Assad government losing control of over half of the
countrytooppositionrebels,orintheYemenCivilWar,wheretheHadigovernmentislosingcontroloflarge
portions of the country to the Houthis, the lack of government presence in certain regions of the country
allowsproxiestoexercisetheirwill.Thislackofgovernmentpresenceleadstoalackoforderoranysortof
law enforcement in the regions, allowing the proxies to act freely, without consequence. This means that
proxies are able to use conventional weaponry freely in these regions, and face no punishment for their
actions, even though they may be in violation of A/RES/70/71. Hence, one of the major reasons for the
growth and strengthening of the proxies is the lack of law enforcement in conflict regions. Poor border
securityinmanyareassuchastheSyrianborder,theIraqiborder,oreventheYemeniborderforinstance
has also contributed to the growth of proxies. Poor border security make sit easier for proxies to easily
infiltrateacrossnations,likeoppositionrebelssupportedbySaudiArabiahavefounditeasytoinfiltratethe
Syrian border between Syria and Iraq. Poor border security also allows the nations involved, like Saudi
Arabia,toeasilyprovideweaponryandfundingtotheproxiesaslackofsurveillanceatthebordersmeans
thatweaponsconvoyscaneasilycrossthebordertoreachtheproxiessupportedbyanationinthecountry.
Forexample,poorbordersecurityontheSyria–JordanborderallowedSaudiArabiatotransportweapons
totheIslamicFrontthroughthatborder.
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ThepossibledisastrouseffectoftheIraniannuclearprogramontheproxywars
IsraelallegedlyorchestratedtheassassinationsofseveralseniorIraniannuclearscientists,allinthe
fearthatIran’snuclearprogramcouldhaveadisastrousimpactontheIran–Israelproxywarandposea
threattoIsrael’snationalsecurity.IsraelwasinthefearthatIran’snuclearprogramcouldpossiblybeused
to develop weapons of mass destruction (nuclear weapons) that could be used by Iran’s proxies like
Hezbollah, against Israel. Even though the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has certified and
reviewed Iran’s nuclear program, the international community yet fears the slightest possibility that this
phenomenonaboutWMDmaybetrue,consideringIran’sreluctancetoprovideinformationtotheIAEAin
thepast58.AlthoughIraneliminateditsstockpileof20%enricheduraniumundertherequestofIAEA59,Iran
still possesses over 5000 centrifuges across the country, including those in its Natanz enrichment plant.
Although Iran has agreed to ensure that uranium at its nuclear facilities is not enriched beyond 3.7%, the
international community notes with concern that should Iran wish to do so, Iran’s nuclear facilities can
enrich weapons grade uranium within a time period of 1 year. Saudi Arabia and Israel both consider this
nuclearprogramtobeathreattotheirnationalintegrityandregionalinterests.Ifweaponsgradeuraniumis
everusedtomakeWMDsusedbyHezbollahandHamas,theproxywarcouldintensifydisastrously,andlead
tochaosaswellaslengthenedandmoresevereconflictsintheMiddleEast.Hence,oneofthekeyissuesof
thecurrentproxywaristokeepinmindthepossibledisastrouseffectsofweaponsgradeuranium,andtake
precautionarymeasurestopreventtheoccurrenceofthatphenomenon.
Thelackofsustainabilityinthesolutionsincorporatedbythepreviousattemptstosolvetheissue
Sustainability refers to the ability of a solution to help solve the crisis on a long – term and viable
basis.Mostofthepastactionstosolvethepastactionstoaddresstheissuehavemerelybeenshortterm
solutions, that have instead aggravated and worsened the conflict in the long term. For example, the
EuropeanUniondecidedtosendnon–lethalsuppliestoSyrianrebelstotoppletheAssadgovernmentand
in effect end the Iran – Saudi Arabia proxy war in Syria. Instead, in the long term, these supplies
strengthened the rebels and made the Syrian Civil War more intense. Many countries also supported the
FreeSyrianArmyinordertoeliminateAssad(Iran’sally)andendtheIran–SaudiArabiaproxywar.Several
countries donated ammunition and funding to the FSA. However, in the long term, many FSA fighters
themselvesseparatedfromtheFSA,leadingtotheformationofamoreradicalorganization,theIslamicState
(IS)thathasworsenedthepoliticalscenariointheMiddleEast.Hence,oneofthemostimportantreasons
thattheproxywarhasheightenedisunsustainablesolutionsthatwereunabletoachievethedesiredeffect.
Thelackofsustainabilityinpastactionsisakeyissuetobeaddressed,asithasleadtohigherhumanitarian
andpoliticalcostsduetoexistingconflictsbecomingmoreintense.
58
Mufson,Steven.“IranIsn’tProvidingNeededAccessorInformation,NuclearWatchdogSays.”WashingtonPost24Mar.
2015. Web. 12 June 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/un-nuclear-watchdog-iran-not-providingneeded-information-access/2015/03/24/6557b24a-d23d-11e4-8fce-3941fc548f1c_story.html>
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“Iran Completes Process of Eliminating Enriched Uranium.” BBC Middle East 21 July 2014. Web. 12 June 2016.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28397207>
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PossibleSolutions
It is important to realize that the core reason that these proxies like the Hezbollah and Hamas are
able to effectively execute proxy wars like those against Saudi Arabia and Israel is because these proxies
havelargesourcesandchannelsofobtainingammunitionthatarenotmonitored,allowingthemtoobtain
largeamountsofweaponryfortheproxywar.Hence,oneofthemostimportantsolutionsistodisarmthese
proxies.SuchdisarmamentcanbeachievediftheUnitedNationsisabletomonitorandcontrolinternational
illegal trade in small arms and light weapons. Hence, proxy wars can be combatted if committees like the
DISEC collaborate with the Geneva Conference on Disarmament and the Conventional Weapons Branch of
the United Nations Office on Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) to achieve stricter and more efficient
implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, in order to regulate the trade in conventional weaponry. Such
regulationontheconventionalweaponrytradecouldbestrengthenedbyimprovingandimplementingthe
NewStrategicArmsReductionTreaty(NewSTART)whichhasnotyetbeensuccessfullyimplementedbythe
United Nations. With the international community worried about the possible impacts of Iran’s nuclear
programonthecurrentproxywar,oneofthemajorconcernsisthefactthatIran’sproxiescouldpossibly
obtainweaponsofmassdestructionduetothisnuclearprogram,whichcouldposearisktoregionalroderin
the Middle East. To prevent any misuse of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and to establish precautionary
measures against the escalation of the proxy wars, on the most viable solutions would be for the United
NationstocollaboratewiththeZanggerCommitteetoevaluatethenuclearcapabilitiesinIranandtoaidin
the creation of a possible Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East. A Middle East Nuclear Weapons
Free Zone (NENWFZ) exists as a proposed agreement by Egypt, but such a NWFZ has never been fully
implementedintheMiddleEast.EstablishmentoftheNWFZwouldallowforgreatercontrolandmonitoring
of the sources of weapons of mass destruction in the region, making it more difficult for proxies to obtain
such weapons. Such a measure will also help strengthen the Nuclear Non – Proliferation Treaty (NPT),
promote nuclear disarmament and also serve as an important confidence building measure in the peace
processintheMiddleEast.Hence,DISECmustcollaboratewiththeAdvisoryBoardonDisarmamentMatters
toregulatetheprovisionofarmamentsandammunitiontoproxiesintheMiddleEast,withspecialemphasis
on preventing the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by these non – state actors (proxies) like
HamasandHezbollah.
AnothersolutioncouldinvolvetheDISECcollaboratingwiththeSecurityCounciltotakeactionswith
regardstoChapter6andChapter7oftheUNCharter.UnderChapter6,theUnitedNationscouldpossiblytry
to achieve pacific settlement of disputes, by trying to establish bilateral talks and diplomatic negotiations
betweenIranandSaudiArabia.Thesecouldallowforthedifferencesintheideologiesofthetwocountriesto
bebetterunderstood,allowingforanyconflictstobecleareddiplomatically.However,consideringthatthis
conflictstemsmajorlyfromthedifferencebetweenSunniandShiaIslam,itisimprobableandunlikelythat
religiousdifferencescouldbesortedoutdiplomaticallyforthetwocountries.Therefore,itisrecommended
thattheUnitedNationstrytoimplementandenactChapter7oftheUNCharterinthefuture,tomaintain
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regional order in the Middle East, and to eliminate this proxy war. Under Chapter 7 Article 41, the United
Nationsisrecommendedtopossiblyencouragememberstatestoplaceembargoesandassetfreezesagainst
membersinvolvedintheproxywar.Preliminaryactionstakenagainstthecountriesinvolvedintheproxy
warcouldbetheseveranceofdiplomaticrelations.InthescenariothatArticle41provestobeinsufficient,
oneofthesolutionscouldbefortheMilitaryStaffCommitteetocoordinatetheUnitedNationsEmergency
Forcesinaninterventioninconflictregions,andhenceusearmedforcestoeliminatetheproxiesandend
theproxywar,undertheprovisionsofArticle44andArticle46oftheCharter.However,theUnitedNations
would have to delay and prevent resorting to armed intervention as far as possible, and use it only in the
most extreme of scenarios if all other measures fail. This is because even though this armed intervention
mayeliminateproxies,itmayintensifyandprolongexistingconflictsintheMiddleEast,includingtheSyrian
CivilWarandtheYemenCivilWar,amongothers.
One of the other solutions would be to strengthen the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration(DDR)principlesthatareusedbytheUNduringnegotiationsandpeacebuildingthroughthe
duration of the conflict. DDR attempts to create an enabling environment for peace building and political
processes. However, in several situations like Yemen and Syria, the UN has found it difficult to effectively
employ the DDR principles due to the magnitude of proxies, opposition rebels, governments and nations
involved.Hence,oneofthesolutionswouldbetoimproveandstrengthentheDDRprinciplesandmethods
ofimplementationtoensurethatitcanbeeffectivelyimplementedandenactedinconflictregionslikeSyria
and Yemen to end proxy wars. Such strengthening could involve improvements to the reintegration
principles to ensure that the members of proxies are reintegrated into society, and do not take up armed
combatagain.TheseimprovementscouldalsoinvolvetheUNincorporatingmoredetailedplansofactionfor
demobilization,asitinvolvesthecontrolleddischargeofmembersfromarmedgroups.Improvementstothe
DDR serve as a sustainable means to address the issue, considering that most of the past UN actions have
been unsustainable and very short term with respect to the crisis. Improvements to demobilization and
reintegrationwouldmakethissolutionlong–termandfeasible,asthesemeasureswouldensurethatnew
proxies do not continue to be formed in conflict regions. One final solution would be to set up an
International Criminal Tribunal in the conflict regions. As stated earlier, one of the reasons that proxies
thrive in conflict regions is due to the lack of law enforcement and order in the area. DISEC could
recommend a setup of an International Criminal Tribunal under the mandate of the UN Security Council
whichcouldhelptoensurelawenforcementinconflictregions,andputseniormembersofarmedproxieson
trial, in order to halt and cease the activities of the proxies. These criminal tribunals could try senior
membersoftheproxiesforwarcrimesundertheRomeStatuteoftheICC,ifapplicable.ThisInternational
CriminalTribunalshallbeashorttermmeansofhaltingtheproxies,beforetheDDRprinciplescanbefully
implemented.
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