Our world is seeing an uprising in violence which some believe is leading to an escalation of war. The question is, are we already in one? Is World War III a possibility? On February 24th 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine following tensions and strife from the Russo-Ukrainian War. On October 7th 2023 the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack from the Gaza strip into the Gaza envelope in southern Israel. They proceeded to kill over 1,200 Israelis, and kidnap over 230 Israelis and other foreign nationals as hostages, including Americans. A divide has long existed between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. The Israeli people fight back against Hamas’s brutal attacks, however the argument has been made that Israel took it too far to the point where innocent citizens are being killed. Cut off from water, food, and medical resources along with constant bombing has disabled Palestine to the demise of its people. Furthermore Israel defends itself as they are also suffering attacks from Hamas leading to the death of many innocent Israeli people. I think all decent people can agree that the main goal is to stop the killing for the sake of both the Palestinian people and the Israeli people. However, there is no easy solution, as the Palestinian people want religious freedom from Israel and push a violent ideology.

Furthermore their leader Ismail Haniyeh left little hope for peace talks, saying, “Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with.” Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital July 31st 2024 with Israel claiming responsibility. Neither side has agreed to conditional proposals made for peace. Furthermore Hamas has been supplied with weapons, money, and other militaristic support since the 1990s from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran further fuels the fire of war by supplying Russia with long range and short range ballistic missiles since they first invaded Ukraine. The availability of these missiles was significant as it leaves Ukraine’s airspace extremely vulnerable, and gives Russia the ability to launch long range attacks. The tensions between the US and Iran remain tense due to previous conflict being reignited by supplying Russia and Hamas with weapons and other aid to fight those the US are backing like Ukraine and Israel. Iran continued its assault by staging a direct attack.

On April 13, 2024 Iran launched an attack against Israel, following an April first Israeli air strike attack on Iranian high ranking military officials in Syria. Although a sore subject, both the UN and US support Israel’s right to defend itself from Hamas’s attacks. Given the alliances and provided aid, the US is considered more supportive of Israel. It is important to note however that the US has also called for, and sent aid to Palestine and remains adamant about a two-state solution. US service members have also been killed in the middle east attempting to provide aid to both Israel and Palestine (specifically Gaza). Adding to the conflicts in the Middle East, the United State’s poorly orchestrated withdrawal of troops and aid from Afghanistan has left the country in a state of tyranny with even more power than they had before. The Taliban immediately took control of Kabul and the rest of Afghanistan reinstituting their Islamic Sharia-based law despite prior promises to respect human rights. Along with public executions, amputations, and flogging, the regression of public speech, democracy, and freedom has rapidly decreased. Women have lost an enormous amount of rights and are living in unfathomable conditions. Afghanistan is considered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Over the last 20 years, citizens have grown accustomed to this freedom and better world.

Now overnight it has been taken away in an instant unleashing literal hell on its confused, scared, and hopeless citizens. The president at the time, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been heavily criticized for their poor planning, and failure of a withdrawal. Furthermore it has been called into question why the President George W. Bush (at the time) entered Afghanistan. Announced on October 7, 2001 the goal was to disrupt the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda after the Taliban’s refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden. However the endgame of America’s involvement was not clear. Furthering the criticisms of America, the US has been sending billions of dollars to the taliban, “According to an August 2023 World Bank report, the UN has purchased, transported, and transferred $2.9 billion in U.S. currency to Afghanistan since August 2021. This included $1.8 billion provided in 2022 and $1.1 billion provided in 2023, as of August 2023” According to a SIGAR (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction). Ultimately funding the killing of US soldiers. Adding to the instability of the middle east is the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan left 7 billion dollars worth of equipment including, aircrafts, ground vehicles, weapons and ammunition, and other equipment.

In the case of Ukraine and Russia, recent news has revealed North Korea has entered the fight by providing some soldiers to aid Russia. However there have been many stories of Russian soldiers defecting and even killing their officers. Russia has been lying to its soldiers, sending them to the line with no training, no purpose, and no support. Russian soldiers are writing to their families confused about where they are and why they’re doing what they’re doing. Some soldiers are even defecting and either killing their officers or refusing to carry out certain orders. BBC wrote an article about 2 North Korean POWs (fighting for Russia) captured by the Ukrainians. The North Koreans claimed they were told they would be going to Russia for training, never to fight. All these alliances and hostility points to the escalation of WWIII. What’s important now is that we as a Nation look carefully at our purpose in involving ourselves with overseas conflicts. The truth is of paramount importance now more than ever.