Could America be drawn in? Violence is erupting across the Middle East, from drone raids to civilian bombings. Some think the region is hurtling towards a bigger conflict.
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Iran attacks heighten fears of a wider war
Could America be drawn in? Violence is erupting across the Middle East, from drone raids to civilian bombings. Some think the region is hurtling towards a bigger conflict.
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Little triggers
It has been an unhappy New Year in the Middle EastThe lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia. . As the war between IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land. and HamasA militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. rages on, other countries in the region risk being dragged into the conflict.
On Wednesday, a pair of bombs erupted in Kerman, IranA country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million. , at a memorial service for the general Qasem Soleimani. At least 84 civiliansPeople who are not in the army or the police. died.1
On Tuesday night, deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri was killed in an Israeli drone strike in Beirut, LebanonA small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.. Al Arouri was in the safe territory of HezbollahA militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri., an Iran-backed, Lebanon-based militant group that supports Hamas.
In the Red SeaA seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. To its right is Saudi Arabia, to its left the coast of north Africa., meanwhile, YemenThe poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. 's HouthiThe Houthis represent a Shia Muslim minority, but have won support from other Yemenis dissatisfied with the government. rebels have fired ballistic missiles at cargo ships. It has also been claimed that they attacked a US warship with drones.
Revenge for these incidents is only one cause for worry. There are various factors which could flare out.
Yet there are also many reasons why the players might avoid a larger conflict.
Could America be drawn in?
Yes: America, at least under President Biden, does not want to be drawn in. But if its soldiers in the Middle East are attacked, it will be hard not to leap in. And after that, it will be hard to get out again.
No: The recent assaults are par for the course in a volatileCan change quickly and unpredictably. region. A larger war in the Middle East, writes expert Lina Khatib, "is in no-one's interest": even Hezbollah has declined to enter open war.
Or... America has numerous ships and troops in the region. US officials have visited Israel and the West Bank. America might not be actively fighting, but it has already butted its head into the war.
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Keywords
Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
Hamas - A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Iran - A country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million.
Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.
Lebanon - A small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.
Hezbollah - A militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
Red Sea - A seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. To its right is Saudi Arabia, to its left the coast of north Africa.
Yemen - The poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
Houthi - The Houthis represent a Shia Muslim minority, but have won support from other Yemenis dissatisfied with the government.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Powder keg - A barrel of gunpowder. Often used to describe a situation which could become very dangerous.
Suez Canal - An artificial channel that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the the Red Sea. It is a key trade route for goods between Europe and Asia.
Volatile - Can change quickly and unpredictably.
Iran attacks heighten fears of a wider war
Year of fear: 2024 has already seen a wave of violent attacks across the Middle East. Glossary
Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.
Israel - A country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.
Hamas - A militant Palestinian organisation, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is listed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.
Iran - A country in Western Asia, officially called the Islamic Republic of Iran. It has a population of 84 million.
Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.
Lebanon - A small country on the eastern Mediterranean coast that has been in the grip of an economic crisis for over a year. It has a native population of just 4.7 million, but migrants and refugees have brought its total population up to almost 7 million.
Hezbollah - A militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
Red Sea - A seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. To its right is Saudi Arabia, to its left the coast of north Africa.
Yemen - The poorest country in the Gulf region is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
Houthi - The Houthis represent a Shia Muslim minority, but have won support from other Yemenis dissatisfied with the government.
Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.
Powder keg - A barrel of gunpowder. Often used to describe a situation which could become very dangerous.
Suez Canal - An artificial channel that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the the Red Sea. It is a key trade route for goods between Europe and Asia.
Volatile - Can change quickly and unpredictably.