Can the US fix the mess in the Middle East?

SINCE the attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct 7 last year and the ensuing war in Gaza, US officials led by President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken have been investing much time and effort in trying to bring an end to the conflict that has already led to the death of at least 40,000 civilians.

In fact, Blinken has recently made his ninth visit to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began more than ten months ago. It would be the latest round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at reaching a ceasefire and securing the release of Israeli and American hostages abducted on Oct 7. So much for “pivoting” American foreign policy from the Middle East to East Asia.

Yet, there are now signs that the conflict may not be resolved any time soon. If anything, there are growing concerns that the war in Gaza could ignite a regional conflict that would draw in Iran and its proxies, led by Lebanon’s Hizbollah movement, and could even lead to American military intervention.