Controversy
Status:Open
Will the Israel-Gaza War Lead to Regional Escalation?
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Claims
Negar Mortazavi"[D]evelopments on the ground have the potential to escalate quickly, making the unthinkable [a major Middle East war] unavoidable."
Michael DiMino"[T]he risk of direct US involvement in the [Israel-Hamas war]... is higher than most people realize."Oct 23, 2023
Barbara Slavin"Tehran will not send its military into the war zone to help Hamas."
Karim MezranDespite no country wanting a regional conflict, "each country acts in such a way that exponentially increases its likelihood."
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian“Due to the expansion of the intensity of the war against Gaza’s civilian residents, expansion of the scope of the war has become inevitable.”Nov 10, 2023
Gary Samore"The greatest danger is that an Israeli invasion of Gaza... will lead to a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, which could potentially draw the United States and Iran into the conflict."
Fabrice Balanche"The Iranians do not want a confrontation with Israel, and neither does Hezbollah, because they know they will be on the back foot."
Alex Vatanka"Iran prefers to play the long game, to keep pressure on Israel, through its proxies.”
Mark Montgomery“It’s going to take something big [for the US to get involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict].”
Djavad Salehi-Isfahani"There are good reasons to believe that Iran has decided not to enter the conflict directly."
Arash Reisinezhad"The likelihood of an expanded regional war... is low."
Hussein Ibish“Everything is in place for a cascading series of events that will culminate in Israel attacking Iran.”Oct 10, 2023
Tor Wennesland"[T]he risk of an expansion of this conflict is real, very, very real and extremely dangerous."
Sinan ÜlgenThe Israel-Hamas war "raises the very real risk of a catastrophic regional conflagration."
Gary Samore"In this scenario [if there's an Israel-Hezbollah war], U.S. intervention becomes more likely."
Fabrice Balanche"If Israel was attacked by missiles, the Americans would retaliate."
Joost Hiltermann“The longer the war in Gaza continues, the greater the risk of even further spillover of the war into other regional theaters.”
Raz ZimmtIran will not intervene as its "concerns about engaging in direct confrontation with Israel outweight its desire to exact revenge."
Hasnain Kazim"There are now so many forces at play that a proxy war may emerge that will be devastating."
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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.1
© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.1