As Israel begins the next phase of its war against Hamas with ground troops entering Gaza, Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, explains that while Israel’s objective is to decimate Hamas once and for all, the US is also trying to prevent escalation into a wider regional conflict.

Panikoff breaks down Israel’s strategy and approach, the United States' current role in the war, and some of the many groups in the region that have the potential to become involved, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Palestinians in the West Bank, Shia militants in Iraq, and Houthis in Yemen.