Recent Developments in the Middle East Conflict

The latest developments in the Middle East conflict show complex and varied dynamics. In Syria, the conflict that has been going on since 2011 is still far from being resolved. Syrian government forces, with support from Russia and Iran, continue to try to regain control of areas controlled by various opposition groups and Kurdish militias. Especially in Idlib province, clashes continue, despite international efforts to push for a ceasefire. In this context, the humanitarian crisis is getting worse, with millions of refugees forced to flee to neighboring countries. In Iraq, tensions between the central government and the ISIS group continue. Although ISIS’s strength has been reduced, sporadic attacks remain, especially in Iraq’s northern and western regions. The Iraqi government’s efforts to restore stability have been increasingly hampered by internal political tensions, including disputes between the Iraqi Kurdistan government and the Baghdad central government over the regulation of oil resources. On the other hand, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues without a clear resolution. The increase in violence in the West Bank and Gaza has caused many casualties, both among Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Lastly, missile attacks from Gaza on Israel and retaliatory Israeli air attacks on locations in Gaza created a cycle of violence that is difficult to break. International reactions to the violence have varied, with some countries calling for the upholding of human rights and peaceful dialogue. Meanwhile, Iran continues to strengthen its influence in the region through support for militia groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Iran’s nuclear program remains a source of tension, with stalled negotiations and international concerns over its potential development of nuclear weapons. Negotiations with Western countries over the nuclear deal have reached an impasse, worsening Iran’s relations with the US and its allies. In addition, divisions in Yemen due to the civil war that began in 2014 are heating up again. Despite international mediation efforts, the Houthi group’s tyranny and Saudi Arabia’s intervention are creating an increasingly humanitarianly costly situation. The imposed blockade hampered access to aid, causing a severe nutrition crisis for children and other vulnerable populations. These developments show how complicated and closed the trajectory towards peace in the Middle East is, with many conflicting interests. Furthermore, the impact of this conflict extends to various aspects of people’s lives, including economic, social and cultural. The involvement of global and regional powers in this conflict complicates efforts towards a comprehensive and sustainable resolution. In every conflict, the voices of civil society are often ignored, even though they are the parties most affected by this turmoil.