Very much so! The Middle East at that time was, for the most part, under British control or influence. After war broke out, Italy invaded the Greek Isles, which was halted for a short time before Germany sent troops down and crushed Greek resistance. Italy then invaded British East Africa though this was beaten back and shortly thereafter, Italy and Germany invaded British areas of the Middle East. Most notably, Libya which led to Egypt in 42. Outnumbered, the commonwealth forces beat them back and Italy required the Afrika Korps for reinforcements. This turned when at the Second Battle of El Alemein, which turned the Nazi's and Italians back from British held Egypt. The German plan was to drive up through Egypt and take the British held Suez Canal, taking a major waterway, invade Palestine and start an uprising among Arab's under British rule, effectively causing a rebellion. They would then link up with axis forces fighting in southern Russia. BUT By 1943, Axis powers were largely on the run, far too under supplied to take on the Allies. To answer your question in short, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Palestine, East Africa and North had sites of battles in WWII. With at least one being a turning point in the war, the Second Battle of El Alamein.