Editorial: World on edge as Middle East conflict spreads beyond Gaza

Since Hamas militants shocked the world with the slaughter of 1200 Israelis on October 7, the world has watched on with trepidation.

Retaliatory attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of an estimated 23,000 Palestinians, an average death toll of 250 combatant and civilians every day, according to Oxfam. That makes it the bloodiest conflict of the 21st century, just over 100 days since hostilities began.

The human toll on both sides has been enormous, and devastating.

And in addition to the immediate horror has been a rising sense of unease, that the conflict could at any time spill over beyond the borders of Gaza and Israel, into a wider regional conflict involving Iran’s proxies.

Soon after the conflict’s outbreak, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia fired on northern Israeli towns. American defence force bases in Syria and Iraq came under attack from groups affiliated with Iran.

Now, as the Middle East edges forward to the precipice of regional war, Australia has become involved.

Australian Defence Force personnel were involved in the planning of American-led airstrikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.

The action was prompted by escalating action by the rebels in the Red Sea.

US President Joe Biden said more than 50 nations had been affected in 27 separate Houthi attacks with crew from more than 20 countries threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the strikes — and Australia’s involvement in them — were necessary to maintain freedom of navigation on the seas and keep global trade routes open.

The action has already inflamed tensions. Saudi Arabia says it is watching the situation unfold with “great concern” while the Houthi leadership has vowed to retaliate against what claim was “blatant aggression” from the US and its allies.

The Americans say the damage done to Houthi assets was “significant”, weakening the group’s ability to carry out further attacks. But it’s clear this conflict has far to run.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by WAN Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie