Where the Middle East goes from here

Even by the standards of the Middle East, it has been a tense last couple of weeks. As the war in Gaza rages on with no end in sight, two of the region’s greatest powers came about as close as they ever have to declaring war on each other. Iran, which had never before attempted to directly attack Israel’s territory, fired off a barrage of missiles and drones toward the Jewish homeland. Israel and its allies were able to successfully repel the onslaught. But everyone knew a response was coming. And in the early hours of Friday morning, it did: Israel struck targets in Iran. But it was a more modest response than many anticipated. And, for now at least, Iran seems content not to retaliate. Read more