The Long Game: Countering Iranian Malign Influence in the Mashriq | Small Wars Journal

"Devoid of a stated policy on Iran, the U.S. Military can comfortably glean from existing statements and initiatives emanating from within the administration as to what effects are being pursued by the Trump administration. Whereas countering ballistic missile development, nuclear aspirations, and aggressive political tactics designed to grow regional hegemony primarily fall within the purview of other U.S. Government agencies, there exists a niche market where the U.S. Military, specifically the existing Defeat-ISIS Coalition organized under United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) operating in Iraq and Syria, can make a significant difference in countering Iranian malign influence. This market lies in Iran’s presence in countries throughout the region where they use the IRGC - Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and associated proxies to build and maintain influence on their neighbors. Their presence is most prevalent in the terrain from Tehran to Southern Lebanon, a presence that has been cultivated for decades and routinely supports financial and logistics flows of terrorist and militant groups spread across the region. This breadth of control is widely known as the “Shia Crescent”, a term originally coined by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2004. The question to ponder is why this particular relationship to Lebanon is so important to Iran and how breaking this grip will support developing policies to counter Iranian malign influence."