Conflict Trends in the Middle East, 1989–2022

For the past decade, the Middle East has been home to some of the deadliest conflicts in the world, but the region saw a de-escalation in 2022. Following ceasefires in both Syria and Yemen, the number of battle-related deaths in both conflicts was dramatically reduced. While both ceasefires have since lapsed, the level of conflict intensity remains lower than prior to the ceasefires. However, events in Israel, Palestine, and Gaza in 2023 mean that the declining trends in 2022 will not continue into 2023. This policy brief describes conflict trends in the Middle East between 1989 and 2022.