US-Israel Aggression Against Iran: Observer Says Indonesia's Firm Stance Will Be Tested on the Global Stage

JAKARTA — In the midst of negotiations, the United States (US) and Israel launched air strikes on Iranian territory in late February. According to Yon Machmudi, a Middle East expert from Universitas Indonesia (UI), civil society protests, including Indonesians, are understandable due to the injustice committed by Western powers. Moreover, this US-Israel alliance not only damages the sovereignty of other states; the military operation by Washington and Tel Aviv also killed Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. ‘Statements from countries around the world do not appear to harshly condemn the United States and Israel,’ Yon Machmudi told Republika yesterday. He said civil society actors such as NU and Muhammadiyah want the government to speak out loudly against the aggression carried out by the US and Israel. Indonesia is also hoped to play a stronger role as one of the Global South voices. The Global South refers to developing countries predominantly in Asia and Africa. In the Cold War context of the 1980s-1990s, its meaning was similar to the term ‘Third World.’ ‘Hopefully Indonesia will be stronger in representing the Global South, which from the outset opposed global injustice, including intervention and the potential invasion of Iran by the United States and Israel,’ Yon Machmudi said.