The Middle East crisis that erupted in October 2023 with Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has further exposed the region’s deep-seated conflicts, marked by longstanding hostilities.
Israel’s recent expansion of its genocidal actions—from Lebanon to Iran, Syria to Yemen—has added another dimension to the violence unfolding in Gaza, turning a territorial conflict into a larger regional struggle that has raised fears of another World War.
Facilitated by the veto power of the United States in the United Nations Security Council, Israel has ignored repeated calls for restraint from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; multiple human rights organizations; and even the International Criminal Court. Amidst the ongoing geopolitical tensions, the thousands of civilian casualties of the violence have created a humanitarian crisis that only worsens by the day. The latest cause for concern is the widening of the longstanding rivalry between Iran and Israel. It commenced with assassinations of Hamas leaders in Iran, advanced into an exchange of missile strikes, and is currently at a détente achieved after much saber rattling. Yet, conflict shaped by decades of traumatic experiences suggests sustainable peace is not on the cards.
The Middle East has a prevailing climate of insecurity and mistrust stemming from clashes with colonialism and complex decolonization; the difficult formation of states; the perpetuation of authoritarian systems; the creation of Israel and its conflicts with its neighbors; competition for regional hegemony; and repeated interference of major powers. The Middle East commenced the 1990s under the shadow of a devastating war between Iraq and Iran from 1980-1988, and the prolonged civil war in Lebanon (1975-1990). In August 1990, great upheaval took place when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, imperiling the global oil supply and the distribution of powers in the strategic region of the Gulf.
The threat to the global order triggered the formation of an international coalition led by the U.S. Operation Desert Storm in early 1991 forced Iraq to withdraw, with the West imposing punishing sanctions on the state, supported by the establishment of a major American military presence in the Arabian Peninsula. This led to significant anti-American backlash in the region, which persists today, fueled further by the invasion of Iraq after the 9/11 terror attacks. The latest outbreak of violence builds off these tensions, with Iran and Israel taking enter-stage. Any move by Iran to increase support for its allies, or an Israeli decision to extend its military operations to counter Iranian-backed groups, could turn this into a broader war with devastating consequences for the region. Without addressing this wider context, achieving a lasting peace will remain elusive, as each cycle of violence reinforces the deep animosities driving the conflict.