Are We on the Brink of World War III?

While you were sleeping on June 22nd, the United States made a decision that has literally, and figuratively, shook our world. As I am sure you have heard by now, the US bombed three high-profile missile sites in Iran as part of what has been named: Operation Midnight Hammer.

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Only about a week before this operation, Israel–with US support–attacked the Islamic Republic. In the past few years, the US has intercepted missiles and drones launched at Israel as the Israel-Iran conflict has stirred. However, the US has not gotten directly involved, that is, until the surprise strikes on June 22nd.

As the saying goes, what goes around comes around, and Iran bombed a US base in Qatar the next day. This bombing has ignited intense fears of war that are sweeping the United States.

More recently, the Israeli military has struck Evin prison in Iran, killing many social workers and prisoners—not to mention angering Iran.

These attacks have elicited the worry that we are on the precipice of another world war.

This worry has developed partly because of the war between Israel and Iran, which exploded into direct conflict a few weeks ago.

A War Decades In The Making

Although the Israel-Iran conflict started recently, the tensions between the two countries have been heightening since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when Iran declared Israel as an enemy of Islam.

Since then, Iran has been developing its nuclear arsenal, maintaining that it is simply for peaceful purposes. However, the words “nuclear arsenal” don't exactly evoke a sense of diplomacy, and Israel has remained unconvinced of Iran’s so-called innocent intentions. That being said, Israel has made efforts to inhibit their pursuit of nuclear weapons by striking Iranian nuclear facilities and assassinating nuclear scientists. Nonetheless, the threat of nuclear destruction has grown as the tensions between them have.

Meanwhile, Iran has kept busy establishing a network of allies known as the “axis of resistance,” who fiercely oppose Israeli and US interests. The axis of resistance includes Hamas, who notoriously attacked Israel in 2023. The subsequent war in Gaza was a major catalyst for the current Israel-Iran conflict, as it led Iranian-backed groups to attack Israel.

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A World Already On Edge

This newer conflict between Israel and Iran can be added to the already long list of conflicts occurring around the world right now: the Ukraine-Russia War, Syrian Civil War, Sudan Civil War, Yemeni Civil War, Myanmar Civil War, Kurdish-Turkish Conflict, Israel-Gaza Conflict, Sahel Insurgency, Ethiopian Civil Conflict, Haitian Crisis, Colombian Armed Conflict, and Dominican Republic Congo Conflict.

I did not just include that depressing list to be morbid, but to justify the widespread concern that the world is experiencing the beginning of World War III. Especially as parallels are drawn between the time leading up to World War II and today, the question is weighing heavier and heavier in the minds of not only Americans, but people across the world.

Is a World War Really Coming?

We tend to overthink what we hear in the news, envisioning every horrible scenario, guessing at what world leaders will do next. I will not tell you that "everything is going to be OK", or that all of these mass sufferings and atrocities happen for a reason–because that is untrue. I will discourage you from spiraling, because the likelihood of a world war is lesser than you may think.

Diplomatic discussions between President Trump and Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu, indicate the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza. Not only that, but the Hamas finally say they are ready to negotiate a truce proposal in the Israel-Hamas War. That being said, it may take a long time to achieve a true end to the war, but there is definite hope for negotiations.

Another deterrence for a world war is the mere existence of nuclear weapons, which makes a world war incredibly dangerous and world leaders know it.

Furthermore, most of the conflicts that are occurring today are regional conflicts, none involving all global powers in a way that should spark serious concern of a world war.

Also, I would just like to think that we know better now having fought two world wars…but when do people really learn from their mistakes?

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Holding Onto Hope

But just because a world war is not necessarily in our immediate future does not diminish the brutality of the conflicts happening right now. Healing the fissures and pain that these disputes have inflicted may take decades–maybe they won’t ever fully heal.

While we may not be able to solve all of the issues in the world, we can remain hopeful. I know, I know, it sounds like a sappy solution, but hope is so much more than naive optimism, it is a belief in a better future–a reason to persevere. Sometimes its perseverance itself.

As Emily Dickinson once wrote "hope is the thing with feathers" that "sings the tune without words" and "never stops." In light of these trying times, I urge you to listen closely and hear that tune without words that, despite war or sorrow or pain, never stops at all.