On the Brink? The Potential for a Broader Conflict in the Middle East

The current situation in the Middle East provokes a torrent of questions: Is the region on the verge of full-scale war? Will Iran retaliate for the embarrassing death of a Hamas leader in an IRGC guesthouse by attacking Israel with a more massive barrage than it fired on April 13? What role will Iran’s proxies play-especially Hezbollah, itself bruised by the recent killing of a top commander and the months-long attacks on hundreds of other officers and foot soldiers? Might Israel take preemptive action before an imminent attack? Will U.S.-led diplomacy-combined with an impressive show of force-deter an attack on Israel? And what impact will this brewing confrontation have on the prospects for a ceasefire/hostage deal in Gaza?
To discuss these vital issues, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum featuring:
David M. Satterfield, director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy and former U.S. ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey who recently completed service as the Biden administration’s Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues.
Maj. Gen (Ret.) Amir Eshel, former director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and former commander of the Israeli Air Force and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Dana Stroul, director of research and Kassen Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute; former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East in the Biden administration.