Niall Ferguson says we're seeing the same pattern that led to World War II

A leading historian has warned that World War III could be dangerously close following events in the Middle East.

G7 leaders moved quickly to de-escalate tensions after Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, warning that “uncontrollable regional escalation” must be prevented.

Countries including Britain and the United States said in a joint statement following Sunday's emergency appeal that they “stand ready to take further steps to respond to further destabilizing measures.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier confirmed that RAF jets had shot down a number of Iranian drones after Iran announced retaliatory actions against its long-time enemy.

“We, the leaders of the Group of Seven, unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms Iran's direct and unprecedented attack on Israel,” said a statement issued shortly after the talks on Sunday afternoon.

It expressed “full solidarity” with Israel and said Tehran's “further steps towards destabilizing the region and risking triggering uncontrollable regional escalation” “must be avoided”.

Gaza

The leaders of the G7 advanced economies also mentioned Gaza, where Hamas's attack on Oct. 7 triggered an Israeli offensive that killed 1,200 people, caused widespread destruction and killed more than 33,000 Palestinians.

“We will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including continuing our efforts to achieve an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, release Hamas hostages, and provide increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need,” their statement said.

Israel said Iran launched 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and at least 120 ballistic missiles in an attack that triggered air strike sirens across the country.

As of Sunday morning, Tehran said the attack was over and Israel had reopened its airspace and said it had intercepted 99% of the projectiles fired into its territory along with its allies.

The attack was in response to the widely blamed Israeli attack on Iran's consulate in Syria earlier this month, which killed two Iranian generals.

“It’s hard to overstate”

It was Tehran's first direct military attack on Israel, although hostility between the two sides dates back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The latest developments bring years of shadow war between the two foes into the open as the Gaza conflict intensifies decades of tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters in Downing Street on Sunday morning, the Prime Minister called the attack “dangerous and unnecessary” and warned that if it succeeded, the impact on regional stability would be “unspeakable”.

Add to that threats elsewhere, and it's clear the world is now on the brink.

There is a ground war going on in Europe; China threatens Taiwan; and now Israel is under attack.

It is for this reason that historian Niall Ferguson warns that we are just a few steps away from World War III.

His point is that World War II can be seen as an accumulation of conflicts occurring simultaneously in different regions—and that we are now on the verge of the same pattern.

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