Our cover story was initially focussed on Israel’s surprise actions in the conflict zone, which included the use of exploding pagers, walkie-talkie sets, and even household items. However, the situation rapidly escalated when the IDF launched a larger assault on Hezbollah using aircraft and precision-guided munitions. As we go to press, Iran has now entered the conflict, firing hundreds of missiles at Israeli targets.

The conflict has taken a dangerous turn, threatening to engulf the region in a wider confrontation. Hezbollah, long regarded as Iran’s proxy in its anti-Israel agenda, is now in the spotlight as fears grow of a direct

Iran-Israel conflict, especially following the elimination of Nasrallah. On 01 October 2024, Iran, frustrated and cornered, launched a missile attack on Israel amid growing regional tensions. The strike targeted military installations, raising fears of a broader conflict. This marks a critical escalation in the Iran-Israel rivalry with far-reaching implications for the Middle East region.

Iran’s involvement is not merely rhetorical. Its financial and military support for Hamas and Hezbollah highlights Tehran’s determined effort to destabilise Israel while advancing its ideological agenda and regional ambitions. Israel, strengthened by its superior military and intelligence capabilities, is unlikely to accept such aggression, raising the risk of a full-scale confrontation. The ramifications of this conflict extend across the Middle East, particularly for countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have been cautiously moving toward normalising relations with Israel. A wider conflict could derail these diplomatic efforts, threatening regional stability and economic cooperation. This may well have been Hamas’s intention when it initiated the current crisis through its terror attack on 07 October 2023.

Closer home, Bangladesh faces its own crisis. The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government has left the country in a precarious state, where political instability is enabling the rise of Islamist factions that had long been sidelined. These groups now threaten the secular foundations of Bangladesh, raising concerns about growing radicalism. Under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Bangladesh was on a progressive path, but the recent power shift has led to an economic downturn, with rising inflation and a weakening currency. Without strong leadership and a clear economic vision, Bangladesh risks deeper turmoil, putting its recent development gains and regional stability in jeopardy.

A common ideological thread seems to run through these two regions of Asia. Regardless of religious or secular beliefs, it ultimately depends upon the people to decide whether they will adhere to old ideologies or embrace a more progressive future.