Deepening Middle east crisis

With every passing day, the escalating violence in West Asia is bringing the region ever more closer to an all-encompassing war. And the world is doing little more than standing by and watching. On Saturday night, Israel mounted a series of precise military strikes on Iranian targets, in response to Iran firing over 200 missiles at targets  in Israel on October 1. Earlier Israel had killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and an Iranian commander in Lebanon. And before that, Israel also assassinated Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Iran to attend the swearing-in of the Israeli president Masoud Pezeshkian.

A fresh Israeli attack on Iran signals a dangerous climb up the escalatory ladder in the region. Although Iran has played down the damage caused by Israeli strikes, it has, nevertheless, expressed its resolve to exercise its right to self defence. Iran army has said the strikes have damaged only the radar system. But the country’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has made clear Iran’s  determination to defend itself

The threats and counter-threats by the two countries doesn’t bode well for the regional stability already reeling from Israel’s multi-front escalation.  Amid growing concerns of a broader regional war, ongoing Israel-Iran escalation should alert the world. More so, with retaliatory measures intensifying across multiple borders.  including Hezbollah in Lebanon and armed factions across Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.

In Gaza, the fallout of the Israeli invasion that began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault inside Israel has claimed around 43000 lives, mostly children and women. In Lebanon, on the other hand, Israel has killed 2500 people in a matter of a few weeks.  But far from intervening, powerful western nations led by the US continue to fund and arm Israel. This is ensuring that the war goes on, which, in turn, is bringing the region inexorably to the brink of an all-out war. Should this happen, a regional war has the potential to sink not just regional but also global economy. Hence the need for the parties to the conflict and the global powers including those from the east to ensure that the runaway conflict is brought to an end before it spirals out of control.