JERUSALEM, Israel — Israel is engaged in a multifront war of self-defense against Iranian-backed terror organizations, as conflict intensifies following the October 7, 2023 massacre—the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust. With Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and IRGC-affiliated groups in Syria and Iraq all targeting Israeli interests, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have escalated military operations in efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure and deter further assaults.
On October 7, 2023, hundreds of Hamas terrorists launched a coordinated assault from Gaza, murdering, raping, and mutilating over a thousand Israeli civilians, while abducting scores—including women, children, and the elderly—into Gaza. These atrocities, carried out with Iranian support, shocked Israel and the world, marking a turning point in the regional conflict.
Israel responded by mobilizing unprecedented military reserves and launching Operation Iron Swords to target Hamas strongholds, missile sites, and command centers embedded within civilian areas. Throughout the campaign, the IDF has employed precision strikes and issued evacuation warnings where possible, despite Hamas’s extensive use of human shields and infrastructure within civilian populations, which is widely recognized as a principal cause of civilian suffering in the Gaza Strip.
Simultaneously, Iranian-backed Hezbollah escalated rocket and missile launches from Lebanon into Israel’s north, prompting the IDF to respond with targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions and infrastructure. The group, armed with over 150,000 rockets supplied by Iran, poses a persistent threat to northern Israeli communities, with ongoing skirmishes heightening the risk of broader regional escalation.
Away from Israel’s immediate borders, the Houthis in Yemen have attempted to disrupt maritime traffic and attack Israeli targets using long-range missiles and drones, while IRGC-linked militias in Syria and Iraq continue to launch attacks and move weaponry closer to Israel. Israel has carried out limited strikes against such threats, focusing on curbing Iran’s efforts to open and maintain additional fronts.
At the heart of these conflicts remains Iran, whose longstanding strategy of arming and financing proxy groups has enabled the current axis of violence and instability. Despite international condemnation, Iran continues to direct resources and strategic guidance to these groups, with the stated aim of eradicating Israel.
The October 7 massacre underscored the scale and brutality of the threat, with overwhelming evidence documented by Israeli authorities and independent investigators: systematic executions, sexual violence, mutilations, and mass abductions. The continued captivity of Israeli hostages in Gaza, subject to mistreatment and denied humanitarian access, remains a flashpoint in Israeli society and an ongoing humanitarian crisis. In marked contrast, terrorist prisoners released in hostage exchanges have been convicted of violent offenses in recognized judicial proceedings, underscoring the moral and legal distinction between the innocent and the guilty.
Despite mounting military and security challenges, Israel has continued to facilitate humanitarian corridors and aid deliveries into Gaza, frequently surpassing international benchmarks for conflict zones. However, many convoys are obstructed or seized by Hamas operatives, further exacerbating the plight of ordinary Gaza residents. Israeli officials and international observers have repeatedly highlighted this tactic as a central driver of humanitarian suffering in the territory.
Internationally, Israel maintains strong alliances, most notably with the United States, which has provided security assistance and diplomatic backing at the United Nations and other forums. Recent normalization agreements with Arab states (the Abraham Accords) also signal a broader shift toward Israeli integration in the region, even as the war’s complexities strain relations with some traditional partners.
Israeli leaders—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz—have pledged to continue military operations until all hostages are returned and terror infrastructure is dismantled. The Israeli public remains resilient, with citizens volunteering, donating, and supporting defense efforts amid ongoing rocket and missile attacks across the country.
Contextually, this war follows decades of Israeli withdrawals and attempted peacemaking, which were consistently met with waves of terror rather than coexistence. Israel’s stated goal remains the safeguarding of its population and the permanent dismantling of Iranian-backed military capabilities on its borders—a mission it pursues with a combination of military force, humanitarian precautions, and international diplomacy.
As the conflict endures, Israel stands not only as a frontline defender against Iranian expansionism but as a focal point in the global struggle against jihadist terror and antisemitic incitement. The outcome will likely shape the region for years to come and determine the security and stability of the broader Middle East.
