The Hamas-Israel war, which began more than a year ago on 7 October 2023 and was primarily fought in the geography of the Gaza Strip, has recently escalated into war between Israel and Hezbollah, drawing in Lebanon too. From the outset, however, a number of regional and international actors have gotten involved in the war, its satellite fronts, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending it. Members of Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ have carried out attacks against U.S. positions in Syria and Iraq (led by the umbrella group of the so-called ‘Islamic Resistance’) and launched airstrikes on Israel from Yemen (Houthi movement). Iran and Israel have also exchanged fire directly on two separate occasions in 2024. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been the foremost provider of military support to Israel with its senior diplomats also engaging in shuttle diplomacy across the region. Iran has maintained material support for its proxies.
In light of Israel’s expanding offensive and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and – most recently – Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ mastermind behind the 7 October terrorist attack on Israel, Iran is growing increasingly more anxious. The probability for a broader war, potentially involving Iran directly, looms over the region with virtually all countries preparing for what’s next in one way or another.
MENAF’s panel discussion will provide an overview of the most important aspects of the ongoing war and attempt to gauge the strategy of its main, strategically important players.