The Middle East Fire: Is It Really About Religion, or the Long Shadow of British Empire?

For many people watching the current tensions between Israel, Iran, and the Arab world, the conflict appears to be a simple religious battle between Jews and Muslims. But history rarely works in such simple ways. Beneath the headlines, missiles, and political speeches lies a much older story—one deeply connected to colonial strategies, geopolitical interests, and the enduring consequences of a powerful imperial tactic: divide and rule.

To understand the roots of the conflict, we must go back more than a century, to the time when the British Empire controlled vast parts of the world. Britain governed territories across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, often using a similar strategy wherever it ruled—divide communities along religious or ethnic lines so that they would remain too busy fighting each other to challenge imperial authority.

India provides one of the most visible examples. The British ruled the subcontinent for nearly two centuries, and when they finally left in 1947, they partitioned the land into India and Pakistan largely along religious lines. That single decision triggered one of the largest and bloodiest migrations in human history and planted the seeds for conflicts that continue even today.

A remarkably similar pattern unfolded in the Middle East.

During World War I, Britain made multiple, often contradictory promises about the future of the region. In the Balfour Declaration of 1917, Britain expressed support for establishing a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. At the same time, British officials had also indicated to Arab leaders that they would gain independence in the same region after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Two different communities were effectively promised the same land.

When Britain governed Palestine under its mandate after World War I, tensions between Jewish immigrants and Arab residents steadily increased. By the time the British withdrew in 1948, the region was already deeply divided. The creation of Israel and the subsequent wars between Israel and its Arab neighbors turned that division into a long-running geopolitical conflict that has shaped global politics for decades.

But the current tensions involving Iran add another layer.

Iran is not an Arab country; it is Persian and predominantly Shia Muslim, while much of the Arab world is Sunni. Yet Iran has positioned itself as a strong opponent of Israel and a supporter of Palestinian groups. This has transformed what was once a regional dispute into a much wider ideological and strategic confrontation.

Another major factor is the role of the United States.

Since the mid-20th century, the United States has been Israel’s strongest ally. Several reasons explain this support. Israel is seen as a key democratic partner in the Middle East, a region historically dominated by monarchies and authoritarian governments. The two countries also share deep intelligence, military, and technological cooperation. Domestic political dynamics in the U.S., including strong pro-Israel lobbying and historical sympathy following the Holocaust, have also reinforced this relationship.

However, this alliance often pulls the United States into regional conflicts.

Recent events illustrate how quickly local tensions can become global crises. Israel’s confrontation with Iran has already produced ripple effects across the world. Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical oil transit routes on Earth, has disrupted global energy supplies. A significant portion of the world’s oil passes through this narrow passage from Gulf countries.

The consequences are already visible. Oil prices are rising globally, supply chains are tightening, and countries far from the battlefield are feeling the economic shock. Even in India, reports have emerged of restaurants and hotels facing difficulties due to LPG supply disruptions.

Another unexpected development has surprised many analysts. Some observers believed that targeting Iran’s leadership would create internal divisions within the country and trigger political instability. Instead, the opposite appears to be happening. Large crowds have gathered in Tehran and other cities, showing public solidarity with the country’s leadership and honoring soldiers killed in the conflict. Rather than fragmenting, the crisis has temporarily unified many Iranians.

This pattern is not unusual in history. External pressure often strengthens national unity instead of weakening it.

Looking at the bigger picture, the ongoing tensions remind us that many modern conflicts cannot be understood without examining the colonial decisions that shaped national borders and identities decades ago. The legacy of imperial strategies—particularly dividing societies along religious lines—continues to echo across continents.

The tragedy is that ordinary people are the ones who pay the highest price.

Missiles and military alliances dominate the headlines, but behind them are millions of civilians dealing with economic hardship, uncertainty, and fear. From Tehran to Tel Aviv, from Gaza to distant countries affected by energy shocks, the ripple effects of these conflicts spread far beyond the battlefield.

History shows that wars built on unresolved historical grievances rarely end quickly. And as long as the old lines drawn by empire continue to define modern politics, the world may keep witnessing the same cycle—conflict, retaliation, and consequences that stretch far beyond the region where the first spark began.

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