Lessons from the Middle East’s Unfinished War

Mar 25, 2025

Also published in Center for Security Studies
Flags of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Turkey on display in Riyadh
About the Authors
Michael Singh
Michael Singh

Michael Singh is the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Articles & Testimony

Definitive conclusions about the post-October 7 environment remain elusive, but it is not too early to draw lessons and consider the problems and opportunities that may arise from the recent upheaval in 2025.

The following is an excerpt from a chapter in Strategic Trends 2025: Key Developments in Global Affairs, an annual report from the Center for Security Studies. To read the full chapter, download the PDF on this page or visit the ETH Zurich website.

The conflicts in the Middle East that were triggered by the October 2023 attack on Israel continue to reverberate. Israel’s military campaign, spanning seven fronts, has weakened Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran while contributing to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Yet Hamas endures as a dominant Palestinian actor, sidelining rivals, while Iran nears nuclear capability and extremists have gained ground in Syria. With unresolved tensions, looming threats, and shifting Western policies, the region remains unstable. This chapter examines the complex and varied consequences of these conflicts on regional security dynamics, highlighting key lessons and trends to inform policy responses and future strategies...

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Topics

Peace Process U.S. Policy

Regions & Countries

Iran Lebanon Syria