The ongoing war along the Gaza Strip that began on Oct. 7, 2023, has turned into a widespread conflict as Iran has now become involved in the growing middle-eastern clash.
Iran sent over 180 ballistic missiles at the beginning of October, which were met and thwarted by Israeli air defenses. The quick escalation in the severity of this war has brought further doubt of any end in sight. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that Iran “will pay for [this attack]” with the eventual response of strikes on Iranian military bases only weeks later. This broke a 40-year taboo that has since left the Iranian government weighing their options for further retaliation.
Middle-Eastern historian Steven Allen, who has studied war between Middle eastern foes over the years, explains how this could escalate into a further regional dispute in the coming months.
“I expect at this point for Iraq to join in with Iranian forces in a series of surprise attacks in Israeli cities, which will only devastate civilians and a government that don’t know when they’ll strike. If Israel hadn’t reacted by striking military forces in Iran, I don’t think this would be happening.” – Steven Allen, Middle-Eastern Historian
New airstrikes that were expected to hit northern Gaza instead struck Lebanon, killing at least 23. This is one of many in a sequence of assaults being made that has led to an all-out war. This comes after the execution of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was carried out in Dahieh on Sept. 27 at Hezbollah headquarters.
Michael Thompson, who spent time abroad in Israel just before the Oct. 7 rampage, described what he witnessed before the incoming attack weeks after he left the region.
“In many respects, they were extremely vulnerable to this attack as there didn’t seem to be any warning or collective planning as to how to react in the case of a terrorist attack like this one where we knew it essentially came out of nowhere.” – Michael Thompson, Israel tourist
Since then, it was revealed that Israel had disregarded signs of the Hamas’ incoming attack and didn’t do anything to alert its people. The Israeli military instead concluded that the plan of Hamas’ attack was “too aspirational,” giving little attention to the ramifications of an ambush.
There are now new questions that arise from all angles with the incoming Trump administration as to how the United States will continue to assist Israeli allies starting in January.
