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.
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.
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.
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.