After almost a year of brutal war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel finds itself in the midst of multiple interrelated conflicts in the Middle East. The fighting in Gaza has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths and created a humanitarian disaster. Efforts to reach a ceasefire and release hostages have been challenging.
The conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon has seen near-daily tit-for-tat strikes since October 7. Israel has also carried out targeted assassinations of senior Hezbollah commanders. Hezbollah’s support for Hamas in Gaza is part of a broader commitment to oppose Israel.
Israel and Iran have been engaged in a shadow war for decades, with Iran backing Hamas and Hezbollah to pressure Israel. tensions were brought to the brink of direct war in April after an Israeli airstrike killed seven Iranian commanders in Syria, but Iran’s retaliatory efforts were mostly intercepted.
Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, have targeted ships in the Red Sea, prompting US-led strikes against their positions. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to increased attacks from the Houthis, who claim to target ships connected to Israel, the US, or the UK.
Tensions and violence in the West Bank have increased since the war in Gaza began. Israeli forces have launched large-scale operations in the territory, leading to the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians. The International Crisis Group has reported a rise in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, including attacks resulting in deaths and injuries. Overall, the region remains volatile and tense.
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