Escalation in the Gulf: A New Normal? The US has confirmed that another American service member has been killed in Iraq, amid escalating tensions with Iran.
The latest violence marks a disturbing return to the region's familiar pattern of tit for tat attacks, as both sides target each other's critical infrastructure.
The immediate trigger for this escalation is the killing of American troops in Jordan last week. However, beneath the surface, it becomes clear that this conflict is about more than just retaliatory strikes.