Norton, Bill The Seven Fronts War2023-2025

Israel, Gaza strip and regional conflagration

Special volume 2 from the "Middle East @ War" series. This is the first comprehensive book to illuminate the full scope of this war from a military perspective. The conflict began with the Hamas attack launched from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, yet it spanned two years and seven frontsthereby proving to be the longest and most destructive conflict in the region. A brief historical overview places the war within its context, with the Israeli-Palestinian dispute at its center. The expansion of the war to the so-called "Support Front" carried hostilities beyond the Gaza Strip. Clashes in the north with Hezbollah triggered a Third Lebanon War. Limited combat operations in Syria also included strikes against Iranian elements. This led to extensive exchanges of fire with Iran, which ultimately culminated in the Iranian-Israeli War. Moreover, this war was characterized by direct U.S. involvement, aimed at dismantling any nascent Iranian nuclear weapons program. Clashes with Houthi rebels in Yemen dragged on over a prolonged period. Israeli combat operations against militant groups in the West Bank, as well as violence perpetrated by settlers, reached an unprecedented scale. The impact of U.S. support for Israeli operationsboth in material and diplomatic termsis examined in depth. Furthermore, the consequences of the war for Israel are outlined, including extensive mobilization, economic downturn, material damage, financial costs, and international embargoes. Global condemnation of Israel regarding alleged war crimes and genocide against the Palestinians is also addressed. Additionally, the complex diplomatic processes and the challenging of established norms of conduct are presented. These developments led to political and social upheaval in Israel, which, in turn, impacted the conduct of the war and efforts toward ceasefire negotiations. Finally, the social, economic, and political repercussions of the war are discussed, supplemented by an assessment of the prospects for future regional stability.