The Middle East Edges Toward All-Out War .

Over the past year, there have been many moments of high tension, but the last week has pushed the region to the brink of war.

In the past seven days, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated, Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon, and Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.

Despite calls for de-escalation from the US, the UN Security Council, and the G7—which includes the US, UK, and Germany—these efforts have failed, and the region is closer to full-scale conflict than ever before.

Here’s how the dramatic events unfolded over the past week.

Friday: Nasrallah is assassinated

On September 27, as night fell over Beirut, the city was rocked by a series of explosions. The strikes, aimed at an underground bunker, killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a key figure who had long remained in hiding to avoid Israeli assassination attempts.

His death followed an intense Israeli campaign targeting Hezbollah, resulting in over 500 casualties in just one week. This included deadly attacks involving walkie-talkie and pager explosions that left 32 dead and more than 3,000 injured.

Nasrallah’s death destroyed any remaining hopes for a peaceful resolution. Just hours earlier, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal had been on the table at the UN General Assembly, with Israel expressing cautious openness to negotiations. However, within hours of the strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned home, signaling an end to diplomatic efforts.

Monday: Israel invades Lebanon  

Three days later, Israeli forces crossed into Lebanon, initiating a ground invasion. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described their operations as “limited and targeted,” but the invasion displaced 1.2 million people, according to Lebanon’s crisis unit, and led to the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers.

Israel’s objective is to neutralize Hezbollah’s ability to launch rockets and drones, something the group has been doing almost daily since Hamas attacked southern Israel nearly a year ago, igniting the current Gaza war. Now, Israel is engaged in ground warfare on two fronts—Gaza and Lebanon—something that hasn’t happened for decades.

Despite the stated goal of a targeted operation, it’s clear that Israel is determined to significantly weaken Hezbollah. Israel’s leadership has been emboldened by recent events, signaling a more ambitious approach.

Tuesday: Iran launches missiles at Israel  

On Tuesday evening, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting millions of Israelis to take shelter. Israel’s air defenses, bolstered by U.S. and U.K. support, intercepted most of the missiles, but some hit central and southern Israel, with one reported fatality in the occupied West Bank.

Iran’s missile attack came after Hezbollah was thrown into disarray by Nasrallah’s assassination. Tehran likely saw the strike as a way to reassert itself, though it stopped short of seeking a full-scale war. Iran knows it would be outmatched in a direct confrontation with Israel and its allies.

What’s next?

Hezbollah, despite its losses, vows to continue fighting in Lebanon. Israel has found that entering Lebanon is much easier than leaving it, as seen in the past. Meanwhile, Israeli retaliation for Iran’s missile strikes is expected, with some analysts suggesting that Prime Minister Netanyahu may even have broader objectives in mind, including regime change in Iran.

For now, Israel’s focus remains closer to home: achieving decisive victories in Gaza and neutralizing Hezbollah. Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel is at war on multiple fronts—Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, and potentially Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and Syria—though the latter two have not posed a serious threat thus far.

While an all-out regional war hasn’t erupted yet, the situation has escalated dramatically, with many parties deeply invested in the outcome. The war in Gaza has now expanded, bringing the entire region to the edge of a larger, more dangerous conflict.