Follow the latest live information on the conflict in the Middle East between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.
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The opening of a new large-scale response by Israel in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, is raising fears of widespread conflagration in the region and a new war in the Middle East. With what consequences and what involvement of other actors? Consult our infographic to find your way around better.
Why is it so difficult to account for the complexity of the Middle East and the region’s challenges? “We are faced with an extremely large series of actors, with very diverse interests, to which is added the influence of great external powers,” says Michel Liégeois, professional in international relations at UCLouvain.
Add historical, religious and territorial questions. Of course, they also exist elsewhere, but they only add layers to this lasagna. With interpenetration between local issues, regional issues and systemic issues. Everything comes together to have this complexity which makes getting out of the crisis very difficult.”
War in the Middle East: Iran responds with “very great mastery”
The IDF assault in Lebanon was predictable after Hezbollah’s strikes on Israel. But it also directly affects Iran’s interests in the regionforcing the latter, a strategic ally of the Lebanese movement, to react to maintain credibility.
“Iran has demonstrated great mastery in its response to the aggression of an ally, using missile strikes as a tool of coercive diplomacy rather than as a genuine intention to inflict harm. By launching missiles toward Israel, Iran knew that the majority would be intercepted by Israeli and allied defense systems. But in doing so, the country demonstrates its military power in the region, while avoiding escalation with Israel», notes Michel Liégeois.
