The fragile ceasefire between US forces and Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria has unravelled, with air strikes overnight targeting positions near the Iranian border. The British government has called for immediate restraint, warning that the region is on the brink of a wider conflict that could send fuel prices soaring and deepen the cost of living crisis. For working families in the North, this is not just a distant geopolitical tremor; it is a direct threat to household budgets.
Each barrel of oil that jumps in price is felt at the petrol pump and on the energy bill. The Foreign Office has issued a statement urging both sides to return to negotiations, but with casualties reported on both sides, the path to de-escalation looks perilous. The strikes come after weeks of rising tensions, with Iran accusing the US of violating its sovereignty and the US pointing to recent attacks on its bases by militia groups.
For the millions who are already struggling to make ends meet, this news will be another worry. The UK's reliance on stable oil markets means that any disruption in the Middle East quickly translates into higher costs at home. This reporter was in Rotherham yesterday, listening to nurses and warehouse workers talk about the choice between heating and eating.
That choice gets harder when the world's powder kegs ignite. The government must prioritise protecting the most vulnerable from the economic fallout, even as it plays its diplomatic hand.
