This week, Iran carried out a military strike on Israel for the first time, sending a barrage of 300 missiles and drones into Israeli borders. Tehran spent two weeks telegraphing their intentions of carrying out an attack in response to Israel killing 16 people in an air strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus on 1st April. Iran’s attack, which began early in the morning, was intercepted by Israeli air defences, which allegedly stopped 99% of the missiles sent by Iran.

Nevatim air force base sustained severe damage in southern Israel. Other than a seven-year-old girl who was severely injured by shrapnel from one of the intercepted missiles, the attack had no casualties. This should not lessen the severity of the bombing, however, as it seems the Middle East is now destined for a regional war. Middle East Director at Chatham House, Sanam Vakil, responded to Iran’s actions by saying that “a confrontation between [the two] … is certainly coming, it’s just a question of when.” With Israeli officials promising that there will be a “significant response,” the entire world dreads how the next few months will play out in the region.

The US, the UK, and Jordan helped Israel to intercept missile strikes during the attack on Sunday morning. However, none of Israel’s allies have agreed to get involved in any kind of retaliation against Iran, in an effort to further decrease spiralling tensions. Israel is currently wondering what response to take, as Iranian army Chief of Staff, Maj General Mohammad Bagheri says that Tehran’s next attack will be “much larger than [Sunday’s] military action” if Israel retaliates.

Tensions in the region are deeply rooted, and even if all warring parties laid down their arms today, there is no guarantee that future conflict wouldn’t arise. To ensure a lasting peace, pro-active efforts must be made. The main cause of tension in the Middle East at the moment is Israel’s presence in Gaza. Ever since Hamas’ attack on Israel in October last year, Israel’s six-month campaign in Gaza, which amounts to genocide according to the UN Human Rights Council, has infuriated neighbouring nations. The swiftest and easiest way to ensure peace in the region would be for Israel and Hamas to agree to a permanent ceasefire. While this would ease tensions and more than likely stop the conflict, lengthy negotiations between Israel, Palestine, and other Middle Eastern nations are also necessary to create a lasting peace.

It has, however, been decades since Iran and Israel maintained cordial relations, as the two nations have been locked in a permanent state of proxy war since 1985. Relations have never been as poor as they are currently, so any attempt at diplomacy will be very challenging. Iranian proxies have been attacking Israel for months, but Iran’s strike on Sunday means that Tehran has now joined the fray along with Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria.

With almost every nation in the Middle East trapped in conflict or adjacent to conflict, it is clear that current methods of brokering peace and lowering tensions are inadequate. With the Middle East possibly just one Israeli response away from all-out war, there are worries that a regional conflict could easily escalate into a global one. However difficult it may be to bring various nations on board, diplomacy is the only solution that can guarantee immediate as well as lasting peace in the region. Every major player must set aside their geopolitical interests and come to the negotiating table.