Recent Developments in Conflict in the Middle East

The current development of conflict in the Middle East includes various complex dynamics involving many countries and groups. In recent years, a series of events have changed the political and social landscape of the region. One of them is the increasing tension between Iran and Sunni Arab countries, which often leads to open fighting and support for militant groups in conflict areas, such as Yemen and Syria. In Yemen, a civil war has been ongoing since 2014, with the Iran-backed Houthis fighting a government backed by Saudi Arabia and international alliances. Despite peace efforts made by the UN, negotiation channels are often hampered by distrust between the parties involved. Drone and missile attacks from the Houthis on Saudi Arabia continue to occur, while Saudi Arabia continues air strikes that cause major damage to Yemen’s infrastructure. In Syria, the conflict that began in 2011 has turned into a proxy war involving various global powers. Most recently, there have been increasing concerns regarding the presence of extremist groups such as ISIS that are trying to revive in the northwest region, even though they have lost most of the territory they controlled. Bashar al-Assad’s government, with Russian and Iranian support, appears to be gaining strength, but challenges from Kurdish militias and opposition groups remain, adding to uncertainty in the region. Meanwhile, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is also experiencing new dynamics. Attacks and reprisals between Israel and Palestinian groups such as Hamas continue. In recent months, demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza have shown deep frustration with a situation that has not improved. Israel’s settlement projects that continue to expand in the occupied territories also increasingly trigger conflict, which is often responded to with real action from resistance groups. In addition, political developments in the region have also influenced regional security. The normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab countries through the Abraham Accord appears to have had a positive impact on economic cooperation, but has also strained relations with countries that consider Palestine to be a major unresolved issue. The role of the United States and other major countries remains crucial. The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan has given rise to discussions about US foreign policy strategy in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Russia and China are increasingly actively pursuing their interests, signaling increasing global competition. The humanitarian crisis in the area remains a major issue. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes due to armed conflict, and access to humanitarian assistance is very limited. A long-term resolution to the conflict in the Middle East appears far away, with many conflicting interests and a lack of political will for compromise among all parties. Overall, conflict in the Middle East is a multi-layered phenomenon that requires sustained attention and solutions from the international community.