The Aftermath of October 7: Regional Conflict in the Middle East

Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023—and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war—was the primary catalyst for the cascading events that have reshaped the region during the last year. During this period, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli intelligence have demonstrated advanced capabilities—such as detonating thousands of pagers belonging to Hezbollah fighters—and a willingness to adapt their wartime strategy to decimate Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leadership. With multiple theaters of operations and weekly developments in each region, it is increasingly challenging to see the big-picture ebb and flow of the conflict. 

This timeline highlights how Israel focused its efforts and activities in Gaza at the start of the war (from October 2023 to January 2024), then gradually shifted resources toward Lebanon during the summer and fall of 2024, with devastating effects for Hezbollah. By dividing the two theaters, seen on the left- and right-hand sides, the timeline visually illustrates how Israel adjusted its focus over time, with early activity concentrated on the top left side (Israel-Hamas war) and a spike in activity appearing in the middle and end on the right side (Israel–Hezbollah conflict). Israel’s exchanges with Iran are also interspersed on the right side (Iran–Israel conflict). Although the timeline ends with the November 27, 2024, ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, it provides a rough overview of significant events from the past year of conflict.