A Region at War:

More than 300 days into Israel’s war on Gaza, regional tensions continue to escalate. On July 30, Hamas’ top political leader, Ismael Haniyeh, was assassinated while in Tehran for the inauguration of then-President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian. The assassination occurred only hours after an Israeli strike killed the senior commander of Hezbollah Fuad Shukr and others. These dramatic acts of aggression provoked vows for revenge by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The type, timing, and intensity of the retaliation are yet to be seen, with regional leaders urging restraint. 

At this critical juncture, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) hosted a webinar to unpack these major escalations and their regional aftershocks. The discussion convened leading experts to analyze the impact of the recent assassinations and retaliations on the strategic calculations of Hezbollah, Hamas, Israel, and Iran. The panelists considered questions, including: How have the recent assassinations of Ismael Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr influenced Hamas’ and Hezbollah’s internal politics and decision-making? How are these events shaping regional dynamics and the trajectory of the war on Gaza, including ceasefire and hostage negotiations? What steps should regional and global powers consider to mitigate further violence and address the underlying issues?