Seven-front battle- Israel has entered the most complex conflict period in history. Will the powder keg in the Middle East explode even more-
On October 26, Israel concluded military operations after launching three rounds of attacks against Iran. The nation is currently engaged in a multi-front conflict across the Middle East, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The New York Times has highlighted that the Israeli military is facing battles on multiple fronts, marking this period as one of the most complex conflicts in the country’s history.
As tensions rise, there are pressing questions: Could the Middle East’s “powder keg” ignite once again? With various powers jockeying for position, will regional conflicts spill over? When might we see a turning point for peace?
On the morning of October 26, a series of explosions were reported near Tehran, Iran’s capital, as Israel and Iran clashed again. Israeli forces reportedly targeted Iranian air defense systems, missile facilities, and drone production sites in response to recent Iranian attacks on Israel. Analysts suggest that the extent of Israel’s military actions could trigger a cycle of retaliation, depending on how much the Iranian government can tolerate.
Simultaneously, Israel launched missile strikes against military facilities in southern and central Syria, as reported by Reuters citing Syrian state media. Syrian anti-air defenses managed to intercept several of the missiles, while Israel has yet to comment on the incidents. It’s noted that Israel has a history of conducting airstrikes in Syria under the pretext of targeting Iranian military installations, with both Syria and Iran denying the presence of Iranian troops in the country.
Relations between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have also been increasingly strained. Analysts believe Israeli airstrikes have weakened Hezbollah to some extent, leading to significant losses among its ranks, including high-profile leaders. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that Hezbollah is ramping up retaliatory actions, including ambushes against Israeli forces and missile attacks targeting deeper into Israeli territory, notably hitting the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu near Caesarea, only about 40 miles from the Lebanese border.
Since the outbreak of renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, Israel has been engaged in continuous assaults on the Gaza Strip. On October 17, Israeli forces announced the death of Hamas leader Sinwar during military actions in Gaza, deemed one of the biggest victories against Hamas in a year. However, networks like Al Jazeera and BBC argue that despite this development, the war objectives of Netanyahu’s government remain unfulfilled, as Israel has not completely dismantled Hamas or rescued hostages.
Additionally, Iraqi militia groups known as the Islamic Resistance Organization have claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks targeting Israel. On October 24, the militia stated it conducted multiple drone strikes against “important targets” in both southern and northern Israel. Just prior, they attacked a significant site in Israel’s southern port city of Eilat, declaring it a show of solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Israel is also contending with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have launched airstrikes on Israeli cities since the latest escalation in conflict. In September, attacks were reported in central Israel using hypersonic missiles, prompting Israeli airstrikes against Houthi-controlled targets hundreds of miles away.
Furthermore, Israel’s military actions extend to the West Bank, where they have been conducting raids against Palestinian militants concealed in refugee camps, often leading to violent encounters with Palestinian civilians by organized groups of Jewish settlers.
The Associated Press notes that Israel finds itself in an unprecedented and complicated prolonged conflict, extending beyond Gaza into Lebanon and Syria, with growing risks of a large-scale confrontation with Iran. An article from Business Insider highlights that while significant tactical progress has been made, there is a lack of clear strategic direction at the top tiers of Israeli leadership. Analyst Oz Selick from the Royal United Services Institute remarked that “as the conflict drags on, Israel urgently needs to clarify its endgame.”