There have already been several victims among the many expatriate communities. The first death in the Jewish state from an Iranian missile was that of a Filipino caregiver. The conflict has also spread to the seas, with a seafarer killed on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman. A Pakistani, a Nepalese and a Bangladeshi citizen are the three people killed in the United Arab Emirates.
Despite mutual hostility and sanctions that have led to today's devastating war, there is a bridge that Israelis of Persian origin have never wanted to break with today's Iran: that of the most characteristic ingredients of their cuisine. These have always continued to arrive through the most “fantastic” triangulations at Tel Aviv's Levinsky Market.
The conflict in the Middle East also involves the former Soviet republics, which historically have close ties with Tehran. Strong emotions in Baku over the killing of Khamenei, who was of Azerbaijani origin. Azerbaijan, which also has relations with Israel, is a crossroads for the evacuation of foreign citizens from Iran. From Kazakhstan, Tokaev aligns himself with the Arab countries but calls for a “peaceful solution”.
The attacks launched by Israel and the United States on the eve of Purim and Iran's retaliation against US bases in the region have already claimed the life of one Asian immigrant, a Pakistani national working in Abu Dhabi. In India, the opposition has criticised Modi, who has just returned from Israel. Indonesia’s Prabowo (who promised soldiers for Gaza) offers to mediate. China ponders the repercussions.
While the outcome of the negotiations between Iran and the United States appears uncertain, analysts are questioning the impact of the new Russian military supplies to Tehran. These systems are unlikely to shift the balance of power in play, and Moscow would have preferred not to divert them from the Ukrainian front. However, they serve to ease Iranian irritation over the limited support provided, despite the “strategic partnership.”
Regional tensions are being followed with close attention and concern in Lebanon. As diplomatic manoeuvring between Washington and Tehran intensifies, rumours of war are multiplying. Lebanese sources warn that the parties “are playing with fire”. For Iran, the very survival of the regime depends on it. The risk of Hezbollah's involvement is very real.
