Hezbollah's fall and the escalating Iran-Israel confrontation

Yet, this high-profile assassination was not the only seismic event of the past month. Merely days later, Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, broadening its military campaign not only across Lebanon but into Beirut, Dahiyeh Syria, and other regional countries. This escalation was swiftly followed by a direct exchange of missile strikes and air raids between Israel and Iran, further intensifying the regional conflict.

The collapse of Hezbollah under relentless Israeli strikes prompted Tehran to escalate its confrontation with Tel Aviv. Iran had yet to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was targeted in one of Tehran's presidential palaces following his attendance at the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Seizing on this, Tehran used Haniyeh's death as a pretext to avenge Nasrallah's assassination, launching heavy raids deep into the heart of Beirut's suburbs. In early October, Iran fired 180 missiles at Israel, with expectations mounting that Tel Aviv would soon respond.

This was not the first direct confrontation between the two powers. In April, Iran had attacked Israel with approximately 300 drones and missiles in retaliation for the bombing of its consulate in Damascus. Tel Aviv responded with a mysterious strike near nuclear facilities in Isfahan. However, the October confrontation elevated the conflict to an even more dangerous level. Missiles and overt air raids were unleashed on critical targets in a compressed time frame, threatening to erase the longstanding "red lines" and shatter the "rules of engagement" that have governed the region, paving the way for more severe strikes. Since 7 October 2023, the spectre of a wider regional war has been looming over the Middle East.

Unpacking Hezbollah's collapse

The convergence of Hezbollah's collapse and the Iranian-Israeli confrontation rightfully warrants the cover story for the October issue. We delve into every facet of these dramatic developments: How did the legendary Hezbollah crumble within a week? What impact will these breaches have on the "axis of resistance"? Why did former US President George W. Bush refuse to grant Israel permission to assassinate the "trio" of Qasem Soleimani, Imad Mughniyeh, and Hassan Nasrallah during the 2006 war? And how were each of these figures eventually eliminated—Mughniyeh in Damascus in 2008, Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020, and Nasrallah in Beirut's suburbs in 2024?

Furthermore, we offer a timeline chronicling a year fraught with tension in the Middle East, beginning with the Hamas attacks on 7 October. The timeline highlights the immense humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza and Israel's subsequent shift in focus northward to southern Lebanon. Alongside this, we provide a critical assessment of the glaring absence of a cohesive Palestinian strategy, in stark contrast to Israel's meticulously executed plans, and stress the need for renewed efforts to revive the "two-state solution."

US elections 

The October issue also examines how these events and broader regional dynamics may be influenced by the outcome of the US presidential election. Whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins, the nature of relations with key regional powers could shift. We investigate the political transition in the White House and profile a figure of great consequence—Jerome Powell, Chairman of the US Federal Reserve—while also analysing the scope of Russian and Iranian cyber interference in the elections. While Russia's "Tsar" backs one candidate, the Iranian Supreme Leader supports another, and looming in the background is China, the "Big Brother" with a commanding influence.

Additionally, this issue features an in-depth report on the Saudi economy, complete with analysis, statistics, and visual data. We explore the Kingdom's dynamism, resilience, and adaptability as it faces both regional and international challenges on its path to realising Vision 2030.

Finally, Al Majalla concludes with a broad cultural review, exploring trends in the Middle East, Asia, and globally through insightful articles and interviews. In a poignant finale, we present a thought-provoking piece by renowned poet and writer Adonis titled "Where Does This Epidemic Come From?"