Sullivan stated, “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades,” when he appeared at the Atlantic Festival on September 29, 2023.
Sullivan listed some encouraging developments in the Middle East at the time, such as a ceasefire in Yemen, a decline in Iranian strikes on American forces, and a “stable” Iraq.
A mere week afterward, however, thousands of terrorists broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier and attacked Israeli civilians as Hamas, an organization supported by Iran, launched a terrorist onslaught against Israel.
In addition to taking over 250 lives as hostages, the attack claimed over 1,100 lives and ignited the continuing war between Israel and the Islamic group.
Since then, the Biden administration has made an effort to address the dispute, continuing to back longtime friend Israel while taking into account the worries of certain Democratic Party factions who are more pro-Palestinian.
