The apparent collapse of a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal is spurring fears that a major escalation of conflict in the Middle East is around the corner.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East this week to push a deal over the finish line, but he left without any major agreement in place and with Israel and Hamas still at odds on major issues.
The cease-fire negotiations were among the factors apparently holding Iran back from retaliating against Israel for the bombing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, along with economic troubles at home and the recent election of a more moderate Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who wants to make his country more palatable abroad.
But with a cease-fire agreement now appearing to be in tatters, Iran’s leaders may feel more urgency to strike at Israel, while the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group could also launch an attack from Lebanon after the July assassination of its top military commander.
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