While the Tunisian and Egyptian experiences progressed with some losses, and Yemen leaned towards a settlement that seemed relatively acceptable, the Libyans entered a phase of deadlock after the fall of the Gaddafi regime, as did Syria following the regime’s bloody response to the people’s peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations. Once again, Iran encouraged an Arab government to respond in such a way, and the catastrophe has continued with Iran’s support for the Houthi coup against the legitimate post-revolution government in Yemen, with the help of the ousted dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh.
What many do not realise is that political and social phenomena breathe the same air, and when any trend rises in a country, it will rise soon after in the surrounding area, and vice versa. When the left-wing or nationalist politics arose, for example, they reached even the most conservative of countries; this also applied to the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as the various Salafist movements.
Given Daesh’s regaining of its strength in Iraq, its control of large areas, its spread to Syria and the declaration of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, the pledges of allegiance came rolling in and its branches flourished, including one in Libya. If a finger of blame is to be pointed, then Iran must take its share for turning normally tolerant Sunnis who embrace everyone and anyone into a faction looking for someone to defend them. Daesh was that someone which appeared to restore the caliphate.
If we look at the Kurdish PKK and the terrorist group’s activity in Turkey, we will find Iran’s fingerprints. Tehran has also provided the environment to burn Turkey over the border in Syria.