2023-11-03
48 分钟The Israel-Gaza war has caused reverberations around the world and diplomatic efforts are intensifying to stop the conflict from escalating. Iran has warned Israel that the Middle East could spiral out of control if it does not stop strikes on Gaza. It says the US is also "to blame" for providing military support to Israel. Top US officials are warning the conflict could spread. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has talked about a "likelihood of escalation" from Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah or Hamas, and said the US was "taking every measure" to ensure it can defend" Israelis and US citizens. How high is the risk of the conflict escalating across the region? What are countries doing to prevent an escalation? Is there a real danger of a general war in the Middle East that could pull in Iran, the US and even Saudi Arabia? Shaun Ley is joined by: Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Mirette Mabrouk , Senior Fellow and Director of the Egypt and the Horn of Africa program at the Middle East Institute Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House Also featuring: Dr Seyed Mohammed Marandi, professor of English literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran Producer: Max Horberry and Ellen Otzen (Photo: An Israeli artillery unit fires during a military drill in the annexed Golan Heights, 02 Nov, 2023. Credit: Ayal Margolin/EPA)
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK you are actually radioactive and everything alive is Unexpected elements from.
The BBC World Service.
Search for unexpected elements wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
This is the real story from the BBC.
I'm Shawn Lay with your weekly exploration of a story that's making news and changing lives.
And this week.
In the months since Hamas launched an unprecedented assault from Gaza, Israel has been carrying out retaliatory strikes and its ground forces have now advanced deep into the Gaza Strip.
Already, this conflict has claimed around 10,000 lives.
And fears of escalation are growing.
President Biden has affirmed America's support for Israel.
So in this moment, we must be crystal clear.
We stand with Israel.
We stand with Israel.
But the United States is not just an observer.
Amid signs that other forces are becoming involved, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, just north of Israel, America delivered a warning.
Let me say again, to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word.
Don't.
Don't.
While Hezbollah has a military force in Lebanon, the Lebanese government insists it does not want escalation.
We really think that Hezbollah is not going to start a big war unless.