Living Amid Escalation in the Middle East

’As a Yemeni, war is part of my daily life. But the recent attacks introduced a new fear—nuclear fallout. When we heard the news, we were scared. What should we do if there’s radiation? What if China and Russia get involved? If the Strait of Hormuz is closed, our already shattered economy will collapse completely. It may sound dramatic, but it feels like World War III has started—right here in our region, as if decades of war weren’t enough. We need stability. I really wish for that. And for peace.‘

‘This is an extremely dangerous and frightening time. We saw rockets and drones flying over Iraq—unsure if they’d also hit us. After the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, everyone in Iraq is glued to the news. Iraq and Iran are deeply connected, and Iranian proxy groups operate here. People fear the Iraqi government may lose control over them, dragging Iraq into a broader war. The closure of our airspace adds to the anxiety, as does the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz—critical for 90 % of Iraq’s oil exports. We are worried. Very worried.’

‘I am happy to share my thoughts with you, but on the condition that my identity remains anonymous. As you may know, any contact or interaction with Israelis is strictly prohibited by Lebanese law (I also want to emphasize that I do not want to be associated or to interact with Israelis in any way). Personally, I am ok, but I am concerned. The situation is relatively calm at the moment on the ground, but there is an underlying anxiety among people here. We have heard that several foreign embassies are closing or evacuating their staff, which adds to the feeling that something serious may be coming. And there is the misinformation that adds to the uncertainty that we have. For example, we are seeing posts online about how to protect yourself from radiation. We understand that most of this is not accurate, but the fears are not entirely unfounded, especially with the ongoing threats to bomb nuclear facilities in the region. We have been living on high alert for years now. We try to take it one day at a time, while staying as prepared as possible. During the last war in September 2024, we were given just two hours’ warning before Israeli airstrikes began. Since then, many of us have kept our essential documents and bags ready. Just in case.’

‘I’m exhausted—physically from the travel, but more from the realization of how critical the situation is. I feel powerless. Human rights, international law—none of it seems to matter. It’s ordinary people who suffer while governments talk about security, interests, and deals. But without including people—without healing the past, even what happened this weekend—this cycle of injustice will never end. In Lebanon, past wars were never resolved. Half the country is celebrating the attacks on Iran; the other half is outraged. Everyone is asking: what will Hezbollah do? Will they drag us into another war? We’re on high alert, and the consequences are already being felt.’

‘I speak as a nonviolent activist. This war between Iran and Israel—it’s not just their problem. It’s already affecting Syria. In al-Hol camp, a missile recently struck. It could happen again. It’s terrifying. These conflicts don’t stay contained. And now, as the world focuses on Iran and Israel, Syria is being forgotten again. Just like Gaza disappeared from the headlines. It’s as if the world can only care about one crisis at a time. Syrians are exhausted, and this war may push us over the edge.

But what hurts me the most is something deeper. Something human. It feels like people are no longer shocked. Like the world has gotten used to war. Used to hearing about bombings, death, destruction. That’s a really dangerous place to be. Because when people stop reacting, when war becomes “normal,” it kills the hope for peace, and honestly, it makes us feel alone. If people don’t speak up things will get worse, and peace will become even harder to imagine…’