See How the Middle East’s Ceasefires Remain Plagued by Violence

World
By Breaking News Nigeria

The conflicts that have battered the Middle East over the past three years—in Gaza, Lebanon and now Iran—are all, on paper, in ceasefire. In practice, fighting persists on every front.

Israel has continued to strike targets in Gaza since a ceasefire began.

In the Gaza Strip, Israel continues to target militants involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and push back against efforts to rebuild Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist group. In Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, have been engaged in fierce battles. In Iran, the U.S. and Tehran regularly clash.

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The fighting is less intense than before, but persistent enough to leave all three arenas in an uneasy limbo between war and peace.

Here’s where things stand across the Middle East:

Gaza

Israel continues to strike Hamas targets despite a ceasefire that has been in place for eight months. Last week, it killed Hamas military chief Mohammed Odeh, less than two weeks after killing his predecessor.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire took effect, according to Palestinian health authorities. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis remains severe, with much of the population dependent on aid and lacking adequate shelter and sanitation. Israel has also expanded its control over parts of the enclave, pushing deeper into territory once held by Hamas.

Lebanon

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified despite a ceasefire that went into effect in mid-April, a little over a week after the U.S.-Israeli truce with Iran. Hezbollah has stepped up attacks on Israeli military positions and northern Israeli communities using explosive drones, while Israel has responded with expanded military operations and airstrikes.

The latest round of fighting began after Hezbollah launched attacks in support of Iran. More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since March, according to Lebanese health authorities, and more than one million have been displaced. Israeli forces are also creating a so-called buffer zone along the border, increasing pressure on Lebanon’s fragile government and complicating broader regional diplomacy.

Iran

Repeated military incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz have punctuated the two-month ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. The two sides have exchanged drone and missile fire, though each has characterized the actions as limited and defensive rather than a collapse of the truce.

Despite the clashes, Washington and Tehran appear eager to avoid a return to full-scale war. They are pursuing negotiations aimed at securing maritime access through the strait and creating space for broader talks on sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program.

Both sides are exerting pressure through a form of sea blockade—Iran is controlling the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, keeping global oil prices elevated, while the U.S. is blocking Iranian ships from leaving and entering ports.

Write to Emma Brown at [email protected] and Daniel Kiss at [email protected]

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