Initially, Israel focused its efforts on combating Hamas in Gaza during the latter months of 2023, particularly November and December, which saw intense fighting.
However, by 2024, the situation escalated when Hezbollah joined the fray, launching approximately 7,500 rockets and 200 drone attacks by August. The Houthis in Yemen also targeted Israel with missiles and drones, later shifting to attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq intensified the pressure by firing drones at Israeli targets.
By the end of 2024, the Houthis had launched around 200 missiles and 170 drones, while Iran escalated its aggression with two significant attacks involving hundreds of drones and missiles, as well as a barrage of 180 ballistic missiles in October. In total, Iran likely fired 500 projectiles at Israel. Despite these intense attacks, Israel struggled to contain the situation on multiple fronts, with some commercial airlines halting flights to Israel due to the ongoing conflict, according to Jerusalem post reports.
Israel initially responded cautiously, only striking a few Iranian targets in April and holding off on retaliation against the Houthis until after a deadly attack in Tel Aviv in July. The country also took a measured approach to eliminating key leaders, with Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran marking a significant moment. In mid-September, Israel began intensifying its campaign against Hezbollah, which had launched around 3,000 rockets over several weeks.
Throughout 2024, Israel’s tactics involved carefully selected strikes and raids, targeting key threats while avoiding engagement on all fronts at once. Special forces operations were deployed when necessary, and Israel worked closely with the U.S. Central Command, particularly when Iraqi militias targeted U.S. forces, killing three Americans in January.
The essence of Israel’s strategy in this multi-front war was to tackle one enemy at a time, using an incremental approach. In addition to focusing on Hezbollah, Israel also carried out strikes in Syria, targeting Iranian assets. Following December 8, Israel struck remaining Syrian military positions. However, the challenges persisted. Iran’s involvement in Syria appears to be winding down, potentially reducing one front, but Hezbollah remains a persistent threat.
Looking ahead, Israel faces the task of managing these ongoing fronts as the 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah, which began on November 27, is set to end in late January 2025. While Israel gained the upper hand in 2024, many challenges remain. Hezbollah still maintains a significant arsenal, and the Houthis continue to pose a threat. Furthermore, Palestinian Islamic Jihad cells in the northern West Bank, fueled by weapon smuggling, remain a concern. However, the Palestinian Authority’s crackdown on these groups may help alleviate this pressure.
As 2025 approaches, Israel will need to adapt its strategy as the multi-front war continues. The Iranian-backed groups, previously unified against Israel, are now more fragmented, presenting Israel with an opportunity to exploit their divisions. If Israel can deal a decisive blow to Hamas and bring an end to the war in Gaza, the other fronts may stabilize. However, the evolving dynamics in Iraq, where militias have shown signs of reducing attacks on Israel, offer a glimmer of hope for de-escalation in the coming year.
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