The Impossible Middle East

The Middle East is no stranger to conflict. But even by its standards, the last six months have been extraordinarily chaotic. Ever since the United States and Israel went to war against Iran on February 28, countries in the region have faced cycles of drone and missile strikes against their military bases, energy infrastructure, and water desalination plants. Their airports and oil refineries have repeatedly needed to pause operations. And their regular ports have at times sat idle, thanks to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.