Why Iran is common link in conflicts from Gaza to Pakistan

Israel and the Gaza Strip. Yemen and the Red Sea. Lebanon, Syria, Iraq – and now Pakistan, too. At every flashpoint in a set of conflicts spanning 2897 km and involving a hodgepodge of unpredictable armed actors and interests, there’s been a common thread: Iran. The Iran connection stems partly from Iran’s decades-long efforts to deter threats and undermine foes by building up like-minded militias across West Asia