(CNN Spanish) — The Middle East is going through one of its most important crises in recent decades, after the Hamas militant group attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering a conflict that, six months later, continues to escalate week by week.
On Saturday, Iran, which supports Hamas, launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack against Israel, in retaliation, according to Tehran, for an alleged Israeli attack in early April on Iran’s embassy in Syria.
Although the Iranian bombing caused limited damage—almost all the projectiles were intercepted by Israel and its allies—it had a strong symbolic impact since it was the first time that Tehran decided to attack Israel directly.
But the conflict is not limited to Gaza, nor to Iran: outbreaks have also emerged in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, countries where groups supported by Tehran operate.
This is a look at the main flashpoints of conflict currently active in the Middle East.
Loop
The focus of the current conflict in the Middle East is in Gaza, where Israel has been seeking to combat Hamas for six months after the brutal terrorist attack launched on October 7 by Hamas, in which 1,200 people died in Israel. Hundreds of people were taken hostage and taken to Gaza, with 100 still believed to be in Hamas hands.
Aircraft from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been bombing the Palestinian enclave from day one – causing 33,175 deaths to date, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza – while Israeli soldiers carried out ground operations in large cities such as Gaza and Khan Younis.
Rafah, to the south and on the border with Egypt, is the last large city, packed with refugees, that Israeli troops have not yet entered.
Iran
Iran exerts influence over several groups and militias in the Middle East, and specifically backs both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group, which also operates in Gaza.
In April, however, Iran went a step further by launching an attack against Israeli soil for the first time, using drones and ballistic and cruise missiles.
On the other hand, Iran was the target of a terrorist attack carried out by ISIS in January.
Lebanon
Lebanon’s most powerful militia, Hezbollah, is trained and armed by Iran.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, Hezbollah militants have been exchanging fire with the IDF on the Lebanon-Israel border.
Syria
Iran also has a direct presence in Syria and backs numerous groups, though none of the power of Hezbollah, that have attacked US forces on the ground since the conflict in Gaza began. The United States has responded with retaliatory attacks.
Iran, with its own agenda, also attacked “anti-Iran terrorist groups” in Syria in January.
Iraq
In Iraq, a Shiite-majority country like Iran, Tehran also exerts influence over different groups that, as in Syria, have been attacking US bases in the country since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. The United States has also responded to these attacks.
While in January Iran carried out its own attacks against positions of the Kurds, a group at odds with Tehran, in Iraq, alleging that there was an Israeli spy base in that region.
Israel did not comment on the matter.
Yemen
The Houthi rebels, who control much of the country and also receive support from Iran, have been carrying out attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea, disrupting global shipping.
The Houthis have said their attacks are in solidarity with Hamas.
With information from Nadeen Ebrahim, Germán Padinger, Abbas Lawati, Mostafa Salem, Becky Anderson, Abel Alvarado, Haley Britzky, Hamdi Alkhshali, Nechirvan Mando and Helen Regan.
