Israeli strikes risk escalation and wider war in Middle East

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 31, 2024
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Breaking reports indicate that Ismail Haniyeh, the chief political leader of Hamas, was killed in Tehran. Defense Priorities Fellow Michael DiMino issued the following statement in response:

“Over the last week, the war between Israel and Hamas has shown increasingly alarming signs that it might expand to include open conflict with Hezbollah. In just the last 24 hours, Israel has removed both Hezbollah’s most senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, and Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, from the battlefield.

“While these developments are not unexpected given Israel’s commitments to bring those responsible for October 7 and the Majdal Shams tragedy to justice, the timing of these two events is likely to spur further escalation that may draw the United States into yet another war in the Middle East.

“Hezbollah—and now Iran—will be under immense pressure to respond forcefully to these strikes. As a result, the Levant and broader Middle East stand at the precipice of a much larger conflict.

“As they reflexively surge additional military assets to the region, U.S. policymakers in Washington should do everything possible to prevent the outbreak of a full-scale regional war that would not serve the security interests of the United States, Israel, or the world.”

View more experts and analysis on the Israel-Hamas war.