Two maps to find yourself in the Middle East hornet’s nest

More than 1,200 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants attacked Israeli farming communities bordering Gaza and carried out massacres in kibbutz such as Nir Oz, Berei, Netiv HaSara, Kfar Azza, Zikim and Ofakim. They attacked a police station and several military targets in Sderot. Also Reem, in whose surroundings the Supernova electronic music festival is held. The militants killed 1,139 civilians and 373 police and military personnel, and abducted 253 people as hostages in Gaza.

Israel declared a state of war immediately after the kibbutz massacre and mobilized an initial contingent of 300,000 troops and reserve troops. The bombing begins on the strip. The next day, on 8 October, it destroyed the first 426 Hamas targets, barracks and rocket launch sites. After the first phase of bombing, the army launched a ground campaign, with many incidents of urban warfare continuing to this day. The fighting and bombings resulted in the deaths of more than 41,000 Palestinians, 15,000 of whom were militias.

One of the largest cities and refugee camps in Gaza. This has been one of the points particularly penalized by the military. Below it is believed to be the militia’s main underground operations centre, where the mastermind of the attacks, Yahya Sinwar, may have last sought refuge, and where several hostages were held.

Bordering Egypt, it was the last stable refugee camp and the main entry route for humanitarian aid until Israel established control.

September 30, 2024. Israel crosses the blue line to attack Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon. An estimated one thousand people have been killed in cross-bombings between Shia militias and Israeli forces over the past two weeks, with the first nine deaths recorded this week.

Target of selective bombing by Israeli aviation. The attacks are particularly concentrated on the southern suburbs in Dahiya, where Hezbollah’s main stronghold is located. Its main leader, Maulvi Hassan Nasrallah, died in Israeli bombing on 27 September.

On August 27, Israel carried out its largest incursion into the region in at least two decades with the rationale of eliminating “hostile” groups. Over the past year, 600 Palestinians have been killed in clashes and disputes with Jewish forces and settlers, which has significantly increased pressure on them to take over new settlements in the area.

It is part of the so-called ‘axis of resistance’ made up of Iran and satellites such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad or the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. Historically, it has maintained a complex relationship with the Palestinian cause and Hamas. After the start of the war in Gaza, the haven of Islamic Jihad has started rocket attacks on the Golan Heights. Israel has responded by bombing airports primarily in Damascus and Aleppo, arguing that they are gateways for Iranian fighters and weapons.

Israel became the first Arab country to help defend Israel when Iran launched a wave of 350 drones and missiles on April 13 in retaliation for the Hebrew attack against the Iranian diplomatic headquarters in Damascus.

Cairo has hosted so far unsuccessful peace talks between Israel and Hamas. His government has been one of the most insistent on opening the doors of humanitarian aid to Israel.

It is the shortest waterway for transporting goods between Europe and Asia. Therefore, it is one of the major maritime trade corridors in the world. Before the Houthis declared war on naval traffic, 18% of cargo passed through in 2023. Now, business has fallen between 64% and 80%. Many shipping companies use the Cape of Good Hope route for safety. The narrowest point of the canal is 30 kilometers and is a favorite spot for insurgent attacks.

Has been at war against Saudi Arabia since 2015. They aspire to rule all of Yemen with the support of Iran. Since the war began, Israel-Hamas announced attacks against ships coming to Israel from the Red Sea. They have also sent drones against the Jewish area.

EU Operation ASPIDS: Launched on 19 February to protect navigation, it takes place mainly in the international waters of the Bab el Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and . Persian Gulf. The mission is headquartered in Greece and warships and destroyers from several countries such as France, Italy, Germany and Belgium participate.

Guardians of prosperity: The United States and the United Kingdom are also champions of a naval campaign in the Red Sea, joined by governments such as Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Holland, New Zealand and South Korea.

It is one of the open fronts in the Middle East conflict with Israel. A third of the country is dominated by the Houthis, who have declared war on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea.

He leads the so-called ‘axis of resistance’. Support militias attacking Israel. The countries of the region and the West, led by the United States, are trying to avoid a direct war between the Islamic regime and the Jewish power, the consequences of which are unimaginable. Last October 1, Tehran launched 181 missiles against Tel Aviv and other cities, most of which were deflected, in its largest-ever aggression against Israeli territory.

Mediator and one of the main agents promoting armistice talks.