A motorcade delegation arrives on the first day of talks between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations on the backdrop of a regional escalation between Washington and Tehran at the US Embassy in Rome on July 14, 2026. (Credit: Andreas Solaro / AFP)
From the Strait of Hormuz to Bab al-Mandab, the Middle East is once again sliding toward escalation. A war that nobody truly wants — or that many hope for — but which, if it erupted, would bear little resemblance to previous conflicts. It would be broader in scope and far more global.As Donald Trump announced his intention to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and reinstate the blockade on Iran, a new flashpoint emerged in Yemen. The Saudi-backed government struck the runway at Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The move could prompt Tehran, backed by the Houthis, to try to shut down the Bab al-Mandab Strait and intensify its operations in the Red Sea.The current escalation is driven by a range of strategic calculations, chief among them Washington's vision of the global balance of power. The United States...
From the Strait of Hormuz to Bab al-Mandab, the Middle East is once again sliding toward escalation. A war that nobody truly wants — or that many hope for — but which, if it erupted, would bear little resemblance to previous conflicts. It would be broader in scope and far more global.As Donald Trump announced his intention to take control of the Strait of Hormuz and reinstate the blockade on Iran, a new flashpoint emerged in Yemen. The Saudi-backed government struck the runway at Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The move could prompt Tehran, backed by the Houthis, to try to shut down the Bab al-Mandab Strait and intensify its operations in the Red Sea.The current escalation is driven by a range of strategic calculations, chief among them Washington's vision of the global balance of power. The United...
