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
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.
Iranian Revolution - Also known as the Islamic Revolution. A series of events in Iran that led to the Pahlavi dynasty being overthrown and an Islamic Republic being created in 1979. It shocked the world at the time.
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.
American carnage - A phrase used in 2017 by former US President Donald Trump to describe the US as "a land of abandoned factories, economic angst and rising crime." It has since been used by his opponents to describe the chaos of his regime.
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.
Sanctions - Economic measures designed to punish a country, for instance by excluding it from trade.
West Bank - A landlocked territory bordered by Israel, Jordan and the Dead Sea. It is the largest of the Palestinian territories.