The tensions in the middle east are escalating everyday and Iran has also jumped into the battleground. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, pleadged that Israel “won’t last long” in a rare sermon. Israeli airstrikes also intensified targeting both suburban Beirut and the Gaza Stri🌌p. With at least 29 people killed in Gaz﷽a and claims of 250 Hezbollah fighters lost in Lebanon over four days, the conflict is pushing the region closer to a humanitarian crisis, as tens of thousands flee their homes and vital infrastructure lies in ruins.
Israel strikes Beirut
On Friday, Israel intensified its military campaign in Lebanon, conducting a series of airstrikes that targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut. The strikes aimed to dismantle Hezbollah's operations, with the Israeli military claiming responsibility for the deaths o🍎f 100 Hezbollah fighters within 24 hours. The overnight attacks resulted in major destruction, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and leaving buildings in ruins in areas such as Dahiyeh.
Hezbollah launches 100 rockets towards Israel
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched approximately 100 rockets into northern Israel, marking an escalation in the exchange of fire between the two sides. The conflict𓆉 has resulted in increased casualties on both sides, with the Israeli military confirming that nine soldiers have died during cl✱ose-quarters engagements with Hezbollah militants.
Lebanon-Syria border closed
The Israeli airstrikes also led to the closure of the Masnaa Border Crossing, the main route between Lebanon and Syria. Israel said it targeted the crossing because Hezbollah was using it to transport military equipment across the border. It said fighter jets had struck a tunneꦬl used to smuggle weapons from Iran and other proxies into Lebanon. Hezbollah is believed to have received much of its weaponry through Syria from Iran, its main backer.
This disruption has stranded tens of thousands of people fleeing the violence, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. Since the escalation of hostilities in late September, over 1,400 Lebaওnese have lost their lives, and around 1.2 million have been displaced from their homes.
Iran’s supreme leader delivers rare sermon
In a rare public sermon delivered on Friday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that Israel "won't last long" as he voiced strong support for Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements against the Israeli state. He framed 😼Iran's recent missile strikes on Israel as a "public service," and reiterated his belief in the inevi📖tability of Israel's defeat at the hands of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Khamenei praised Hassan Nasrallah referring to Hezbollah𒅌 as a "blessed tree," praising the group's resilience under Nasrallah's leadership.
He called Israel a "tool" of the United States, accusing it of seeking to control regionaꦯl resources. He firmly supported the recent attacks by Hamas, labeling them as the "correct move" and dismissing any international objections to Palestinian resistance as unjust.
Iran's Foreign Minister visits Beirut
During a visit to Beirut, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of severe consequences should Israel attack Iran. He indicated that Tehran's retaliation would be significantly stronger than its recent missile strikes on Israel. This 💦backdrop of heightened🍰 tensions raises fears of a broader conflict engulfing the Middle East.
US reacts to escalating tensions
US President Joe Biden addressed conꩵcern🐠s about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to a peace deal, a that political motives might be at play as the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches.
Biden reaffirmed his administration's unwavering support for Israel, stating, "No adminiღstration has helped Israel more than I have," while expressing uncertainty about Netanyahu's intentions. The president confirmed that no decisions had been made regarding a US response to Iran's recent missile attacks. "We'll be discussing with the Israelis what they're going to do," he said, adding that all G7 members agree Israel has "a right to respond, but they should respond in proportion."
Meanwhile, former President and RepublicanDonald Trum💃p criticized Biden's stance, advocating for a more aggressive approach toward Iran's nuclear program. The diverging views highlight the complex interplay of US politics and international relations as tensions in 🌱the region continue to escalate.
