Former US ambassador warns conflict worsens humanitarian crisis, signals growing US isolation
Emergency personnel work at the site of a collapsed building, following an Israeli strike in the Bachoura neighborhood of central Beirut following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 18, 2026 PHOTO: REUTERS
Ambassador Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, said the ongoing conflict involving Iran has exposed deep fissures in the global order, highlighting strategic miscalculations, grave humanitarian consequences and the growing isolation of the United States in the international arena.
In a televised analysis, Ambassador Khan noted that recent military strikes have caused significant damage across Iran, targeting military personnel, strategic installations and civilian infrastructure, leading to a serious humanitarian crisis with many civilian casualties, including women and children.
He described the conflict as an asymmetric war, in which Iran exploits ballistic missiles, drones and other strategic capabilities to counter conventional military superiority.
Read: US troops say Iran war is ‘God’s plan’ to unleash Armageddon
The war between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance began on February 28, 2026, when coordinated airstrikes targeted Iranian military sites, citing threats to regional security. The conflict sharply intensified after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Iranian conflict has caused heavy losses throughout the region. In Iran, at least 1,270 people were killed, including 175 schoolgirls and Minab staff, while Lebanon reported 594 deaths from Israeli airstrikes, including 84 children. Iraq, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman also suffered losses, with dozens more killed in missile and air attacks. The United States reported around 140 troops injured, mostly light, while Israel lost at least 12 civilians and several soldiers, underscoring the considerable human cost of the ongoing conflict.
Despite the massive use of air power by the United States and Israel, Iran maintained its defensive posture and its new leaders vowed to continue the conflict, even threatening to blockade the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The war has driven up oil and energy prices and poses serious geopolitical and economic challenges to neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, which shares a 900 km border with Iran and has deep cultural, religious and political ties with its neighbor.
Addressing the political dimensions, he observed that US decision-making appeared heavily influenced by strategic alignments, notably with Israel, and lacked broad international support. Ambassador Khan recalled the 2015 nuclear deal as a framework for diplomacy, stressing that the US withdrawal undermined progress and contributed to the current escalation.
He also highlighted how the conflict has diverted global attention from the crises in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing that the selective application of international law continues to erode global trust. The former envoy warned of strains on traditional alliances, with several European countries reluctant to support recent military actions, reinforcing perceptions of U.S. isolation despite its global power.
Learn more: 200 US troops injured in seven countries during Iran war
The humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories remains dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of Israel’s airstrikes, military operations and expansion of illegal settlements.
These actions have exacerbated food and medical shortages, while hospitals and schools struggle to operate despite damaged infrastructure. International observers warn that the protracted crisis risks turning into a full-scale humanitarian disaster, as the civilian population faces displacement, restricted access to essential services and growing insecurity, underscoring the urgent need for sustained diplomacy and international aid interventions.
On the economic front, Ambassador Khan highlighted disruptions in global energy markets and the rise of alternative financial systems that could challenge the US dollar, warning that prolonged instability could have far-reaching consequences for global trade and economic stability.
He concluded by calling for renewed diplomacy, respect for international law and a balanced approach to conflict resolution. “Last peace cannot be achieved by force alone,” he said. “This requires dialogue, restraint and a commitment to justice and multilateralism. »
