In the early morning of April 14, 2024, at approximately 2 AM citizens living all over Israel woke up to the sound of frequent explosions and wailing sirens. Iran had launched well over 300 missiles and drones toward Israel in a retaliatory attack for the recent attack on an Iranian embassy (BBC). In a joint effort in the defense of Israel, countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Jordan all helped to destroy the missiles and drones before they devastated the nation of Israel.
This unprecedented attack will serve as a guaranteed escalation of the already large war between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Iran has made their support with Islamic Proxy groups (such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas) very clear. With this said, the Israeli military decided to launch a missile at the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria on April 1, 2024–killing 16 people, including a senior Quds Force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, and seven other IRGC officers (syriahr.com).
This retaliation from Israel would only serve to escalate the tension between these two nations furthermore, for Iran would launch a massive barrage of missiles and drones a mere thirteen days later over important areas of Israel, including Jerusalem; if it had not been for the Israeli Iron Dome System plus other countries assisting, would have been utterly obliterated, destroying many of the most historic and holiest sites in multiple world religions.
According to Axios, “Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Sunday that Israel has no choice but to respond to the unprecedented missile and drone attack launched by Iran over the weekend.” This will only serve to start a series of massive back-and-forth attacks between the two countries, which will most certainly lead to an enormous escalation of the war.
The writing is on the wall: this war is going to escalate if not handled correctly. The Atlantic Council stated on February 21, 2024, that “The near future remains uncertain. [However,] a wider conflict in the Middle East capable of physically interrupting oil or gas supply is increasingly likely.”
Now, with Iran and Israel in direct fighting, with Israel attacking two Iranian-backed proxy groups of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Yemeni Houthi Pirates attacking Israeli, American, and other Western ships, plus the multitude of countries showing support for either of the belligerents; it is unfortunately looking increasingly likely that the conflict in the Middle East will only continue to escalate.
