Israel Launches Strikes on Syria and Lebanon Amid Fears of Broader Middle East Conflict
Israel’s military has confirmed that it carried out strikes on military targets in Syria and Lebanon, raising concerns that the ongoing offensive against Hamas could escalate into a wider conflict across the Middle East.
Early on Monday, Israeli fighter jets targeted rocket launchers in Syria and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to previous rocket attacks on Israeli territory, according to Israeli military officials. Further details about the attacks, including potential casualties, were not provided, and independent verification of the incidents has not been possible.
Israel has been engaged in fighting with Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, and has carried out numerous airstrikes in Syria since its campaign against Hamas began.
In a tweet, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their airstrikes targeted the launchers used in the attacks on Israeli territory from Syrian territory. The IDF’s response came following heightened tensions and multiple rocket launches.
The United States has also been directly involved in the conflict, conducting attacks on Syria in response to a surge in rocket and drone attacks on its forces in Syria and Iraq, which it claims were carried out by Iran-backed proxy groups. The Pentagon recently announced strikes on two facilities used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its allies in Syria.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that further aggression by Israel against Hamas could lead to regional escalation, stating that “Muslims and resistance forces will become impatient, and no one can stop them.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed concerns that the conflict could spread beyond the Middle East if Israel did not halt its bombardment of Gaza.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan echoed these worries, stating in an interview that there is a real risk of the current conflict escalating into a broader regional crisis.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian rejected accusations from Washington, stating that his country does not want to see the conflict expand and that it was entirely incorrect for the US to blame Tehran for the attacks on its forces without providing evidence. Iranian officials offered congratulations to Hamas for its surprise attack on Israel, hailing it as a victory for “anti-Zionist resistance.”
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains on edge, fearing the potential for a wider and more devastating conflict across the volatile Middle East region.