Middle East Crisis Reactions

US soldiers told war in Iran part of “God’s holy plan”

US officers have reportedly justified the war in Iran with extreme Christian rhetoric, The Guardian reports. Over 200 reports from US soldiers have been received by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).

According to one report, lower-ranking officers were told by a superior that the war was “part of God’s holy plan”. The superior officer is also said to have quoted the Book of Revelation and spoken of Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus.

“He said that President Trump had been appointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to bring about Armageddon and mark Jesus’ return to earth,” the report says.

MRFF President Mikey Weinstein, a U.S. Air Force veteran, says the reports indicate a growing Christian extremism in the U.S. military, although he points out that similar reports often come in when the U.S. is militarily involved in the Middle East.

United Arab Emirates Leaders Want to Give the Appearance of Business as Usual

United Arab Emirates leaders are working hard to give the appearance that life is continuing just as usual, despite Iran’s attacks on several of Dubai’s luxury hotels, skyscrapers and the international airport with missiles and drones, the New York Times reports.

One example of this is that Crown Prince and President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan made a very public appearance at a shopping mall in Dubai. The royal family has long used influencers, and now their message is that the city is safe and that life is going on as usual.

Omar Al-Ghazzi, a media researcher at the London School of Economics, says people in the country are being pressured not to share material about the war and the attacks.

“The UAE leadership does not want such images to be etched in people’s memories or for Dubai to be associated with any kind of conflict in the future,” he says.