Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
07 February 2024 | 11:25 a.m. SAST
2-min read

Picture: Radio Islam International

The United States of America is responsible for dozens of strikes in Syria and Iraq over the weekend. The attacks come in response to an alleged drone attack on the US base in Jordan, Tower 22, on January 28, 2024.

During a UN security council meeting on Monday, 5 February 2024, Russia and China condemned the United States for escalating tensions in the region.

China’s ambassador Jun Zhang said that “US actions will certainly exacerbate” hostilities and violence in the conflict-ridden Middle East.

“The Chinese ambassador lambasted the US for not supporting the ceasefire and also undermining the Sovereignty in the region by attacking these bases,” Hafidh Ibrahim Deen reported.

The criticism from China indicates the decline of the US’ superior social status, due to its support of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, and in turn, the rise of China’s status as the “morally sensitive global power”, despite China’s ongoing disputes with other nations in the world.

Hafidh Deen told Radio Islam that the Chinese ambassador’s remarks indicate that US retaliation in the area perpetuates a Cold War mentality, symbolising the US’ belief that it can attack any nation in the world.

“The attacks on the Houthis, but more significantly, the attacks on Iraq and Syria, which, in all honesty, aren’t really rebel groupings, because both of those militia groupings that were attacked actually, are supportive of government in those countries. So, it’s significant how this myopia is contributing to US decline, but also allowing and enabling China to ascend,” Hafidh Deen said.

The interview brought to attention the political effects of US military attacks on public sentiment, particularly in the context of an election year.

Hafidh Deen emphasised the importance of shaping discourse and challenging narratives to foster a deeper understanding of events, as well as to provide a clearer picture to media audiences. He underscored the need for transparency and clarity in public discourse, “to start making it more clear to the general public that actually, there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface”.

He underlined the role of the media in shaping audience perceptions.

“The bigger problem is discourse and media coverage and the fact that the Iraqis retaliated by attacking a base in Syria over the past few days, which killed Kurdish fighters in that country. And there’s been no focus on the fact that in the US base there were Syrian fighters. Also, why is the US base in Iraq and in Syria in the first place? And also, that Tower 22 in Jordan? There’s no war in Jordan. There’s no ISIS in Jordan,” Hafidh Deen pointed out.

There is a growing need to think critically and challenge all disseminated information.

Listen to the Media Lens on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.