War in the Middle East
On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other armed groups attacked Israel, perpetrated massacres against the civilian population and abducted around 250 persons to the Gaza Strip. This marked a new phase in the Middle East conflict. The Lebanese Hezbollah, the Yemeni Houthis, and Syrian and Iraqi militias also attacked Israel. The conflict quickly spread throughout the region. Israel subsequently weakened the “axis of resistance” militarily, killing tens of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip and destroying livelihoods. In June 2025, Israel attacked Iran; for the first time, the US participated in military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. As a result, the military balance of power in the region has shifted significantly. A peaceful settlement is not in sight. What interests and options do the various actors have, and what approaches are there for sustainable conflict management?
Contact
-
Dr. Muriel Asseburg
Africa and Middle East (Senior Fellow)
Thematic working group the challenge of autocratisation (Co-Chair)
Areas of Expertise
- Israel
- Middle East
- Palestinian Territories
- Syria
- Civil wars
- Fragile states
- Middle East conflict
- Political systems
- Regional and interstate conflicts
-
Dr. Peter Lintl
Africa and Middle East (Deputy Head of Research Division)
-
Dr. Azadeh Zamirirad
Africa and Middle East (Head of Research Division)
Areas of Expertise
- Iran
- Defence and security policy / Armed forces
- Elites and elite change
- Political systems
Publications
-
Alternative Futures for Gaza: Israel’s Approach vs the Arab Plan
in: Mediterranean Yearbook, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), 08.07.2025 -
How Iran Is Calculating Its War with Israel
Facing a massive attack on its homeland, the Islamic Republic's response has been restrained, driven by vulnerability and the need to avoid U.S. intervention.
Middle East Council on Global Affairs - Afkār, 18.06.2025 -
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis will worsen if the international community does not stop Israels plan
in: Israel’s New Gaza Plan: Expanding Military Offensive and Shifting Humanitarian Strategy, ISPI, 08.05.2025 (online) -
Israel’s Radical Government
Dismantling the Separation of Powers, Takeover of the State Apparatus, and Accelerated Annexation
SWP Comment 2025/C 18, 22.04.2025, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2025C18
-
How a Network of Entrepreneurs and Security Actors in Egypt Wants to Profit from the Reconstruction of Gaza
SWP Comment 2025/C 16, 16.04.2025, 7 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2025C16
-
The Political Transition in Syria: Regional and International Interests
SWP Comment 2025/C 11, 18.03.2025, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2025C11
-
The Fall of the Assad Regime: Regional and International Power Shifts
SWP Comment 2025/C 09, 25.02.2025, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2025C09
-
The deal should improve aid delivery, but will UNRWA be allowed to operate?
in: ISPI, Assessing the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire’s Viability, 16.01.2025 (online) -
Only International Pressure Can Stop the War
Interview with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, 08.10.2024 -
Playing with Fire: Patterns of Iranian-Israeli Military Confrontation
in: War on the Rocks, 25.06.2024 (online)
