Former US defence chief says more war won’t bring peace to Middle East

In a statement published on March 28, 2026, former US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta asserted that further military action will not bring peace to the Middle East. Panetta stated that there is no clear end in sight for the war in Iran. He argued that historical evidence demonstrates that military intervention fails to address the underlying causes of conflict in the region. Panetta suggests that a different approach is needed to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East. His comments highlight concerns about the effectiveness of military solutions in resolving complex regional issues.