By: Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam
Secretary General, Palestine Foundation Pakistan
(Palestine Foundation Information Center), West Asia, which the Western world named the “Middle East” due to its colonial agenda, has been the epicenter of geopolitical turmoil and military instability for decades. A primary cause of this instability is the hegemony of Western governments, followed by the establishment of an illegitimate state like Israel in the region. After the Second World War, this region became increasingly destabilized because Western imperialist powers established Israel and attempted to perpetuate their dominance through a new form of colonialism. It is as clear as day that whenever Western imperialist governments wove their web of conspiracies in this region, including Palestine, the public met it with resistance.
Another central reason for the continuous uncertainty and instability in West Asia is that global powers have persistently engaged in undue interference, preventing the governments of regional countries from operating with true sovereignty. In particular, the illegal presence of the US military has turned this region into a powder keg rather than a haven of peace.
Recently, the United States and Israel have imposed a war on Iran. While confronting this war, Iran is defending itself while reiterating its principled stance: the resolution to all problems in West Asia lies in the complete withdrawal of foreign forces and mutual cooperation among regional nations. The presence of the US military, which was initially imposed under the guise of defense and the so-called elimination of terrorism, has now become the single greatest threat to the peace, security, and sovereignty of the region.
When evaluated, Iran’s position, that the illegal presence of US forces in the region must end, is robust and principled. If one analyzes the history of US military presence in West Asia, from Iraq and Syria to the Gulf states, US military bases have clearly violated international law rather than establishing security. Constructing military bases on the soil of other nations without any international pact or transparent legal justification, while exerting military pressure on sovereign states, not only violates international law and the UN Charter but also equates to trampling upon regional sovereignty. This is why nations across the world view the US government as a belligerent state and oppose its anti-human policies.
These bases established by the US in West Asia remain a constant source of regional instability. History bears witness that wherever US forces set foot, internal strife, the growth of terrorist groups, and perpetual unrest followed. Whether it was the 2003 aggression against Iraq or the illegal occupation in Syria, US intervention brought nothing but chaos and economic devastation to the region. Similarly, prior to this, US forces caused widespread destruction and loss of human life in South Asia, specifically in Afghanistan. These crimes remain a dark stain on the US government, mocking international institutions and human rights organizations throughout the pages of history.
Alongside the issue of US military bases, the largest factor contributing to the instability of West Asia is the continuous aggressive behavior and bullying of the occupying Zionist regime of Israel. Israeli strikes and blatant human rights violations in Gaza, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria serve as a serious cause for global concern. In the past three years alone, the occupying state of Israel has killed over one hundred thousand people in Palestine and Lebanon through terrifying bombings and the deployment of dangerous prohibited weapons, reducing large portions of Gaza and Lebanon to piles of rubble.
Looking at the 78-year history of atrocities by the occupying Zionist regime, the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings is not only on the hands of the occupying Zionist regime, but also on the hands of its patrons, including the US and Britain, as well as every Arab and non-Arab Muslim government that maintained silence and sided with the United States.
The United States has provided immunity to Israel at every global forum and supplied it with state-of-the-art lethal weaponry, severely disrupting the balance of power in West Asia. This blanket permission and backing has emboldened the occupying Zionist regime to carry out further aggressive actions, putting the security of the entire region at stake.
Similarly, regarding the recent war imposed on Iran, it is evident that US policymakers have spent decades attempting to pressure Iran through military encirclement, unilateral and illegal economic sanctions, and direct as well as indirect warfare tactics. Unilaterally exiting the Nuclear Deal (JCPOA), enforcing an economic blockade against Iran, and targeting Iranian military leadership serve as clear evidence that Washington does not seek a peaceful resolution in the region, but rather wishes to maintain its hegemony.
The true objective behind this invisible and multi-faceted war imposed on Iran is to neutralize all countries and forces in the region that refuse to accept US and Zionist dominance. However, despite all this pressure, Tehran has explicitly refused to compromise on its sovereignty. It has become clear that Iran stands alone in the region in refusing to bow before US hegemony, while other states, particularly in the Gulf, continue to play a role of unreserved subservience to the United States.
In summary, Iran’s demand for the removal of US forces from the region is legally, morally, and politically justified. Iran’s clear and firm viewpoint is grounded in realism: the security of West Asia can only be guaranteed through mutual unity among regional nations and the complete withdrawal of external forces.
If only the governments of Arab nations would accept this perspective and establish an atmosphere of mutual cooperation to expel US forces from the region. Arab and Gulf countries must realize and remember that a US presence invites attacks and retaliatory actions rather than defense, dragging neighboring states into unnecessary conflict.
The withdrawal of foreign troops will afford all regional states the opportunity to resolve their disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. Furthermore, following a US military exit, controlling the unilateral aggression of the occupying Zionist regime will become far more manageable, paving the way for the restoration of fundamental rights for Palestinians.
The presence of the US military in West Asia is no longer beneficial for regional stability under any circumstances; rather, it has become the driver of a permanent crisis and a dangerous war footprint. The only way to pull West Asia out of this imposed conflict, economic exploitation, and military confrontation is the complete and immediate withdrawal of all US forces from the region. If the nations of the world and Muslim countries desire lasting peace, progress, and a secure future for their people, they must unite and raise an effective voice against foreign military dominance and Israeli aggression. The key to peace lies not in foreign bases, but in regional solidarity.
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