Since Iran's massive missile and drone attack on Israel last weekend, Israel's allies have warned their leaders to avoid responding in a way that could spark a regional war. area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel appeared to dismiss those warnings on Wednesday, saying the country would “do everything necessary to defend itself.”
Here are some places where Israel has been drawn into conflicts, some of which could escalate quickly:
Iran
Last Saturday, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel. The attack itself caused little damage as almost all the missiles and drones were intercepted by Israeli air defense forces with support from the US, France, UK and Jordan. But the decades-long secret war between the two countries has reached new heights.
Tehran is responding to an attack on April 1 in which seven officers overseeing Iran's activities in the Middle East were killed in an attack on the Middle East region. Iran Embassy Complex in Damascus, Syria. Iran said Israeli warplanes carried out the strike and vowed to retaliate for what it considered a brazen unusual attack.
Iranian officials have signaled in recent months that they want to avoid a war with Israel. Israeli and US officials said Israel miscalculated when it attacked the embassy because it assumed Iran would not react strongly. They said that strike was effectively broken Unwritten rules of engagement in the long-standing confrontation between the two sides. Israel has signaled that it will respond and Iranian leaders have warned that if they do so, Iran will respond strongly, with weapons more dangerous than the recent attack.
Lebanon
Instead of attacking Israel directly, Iran often pursues Israel through regional groups it supports, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Israel's most powerful proxy force. On Wednesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a cross-border drone and missile attack in northern Israel that the Israeli military said injured 14 soldiers, including six who were injured. serious injuries.
It was one of the most damaging attacks in recent months by Hezbollah in its ongoing clashes with Israel, and it came a day after Israel targeted and killed two Hezbollah commanders. The two sides have launched attacks and counterattacks across the border since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7.
The war has moved tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border, and in recent months Israel has struck deeper targets Inland Lebanon.
Hezbollah, which has its roots in resisting the 1982 Israeli invasion, is one considerable strength in Lebanon, and Iran have provided significant financial and training support. Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, said in January that his country would “increase firepower against Hezbollah” until it withdrew.
Gaza
As tensions rise on other fronts, Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza continues. Palestinian health authorities say more than 33,000 people have died there since October, although their statistics do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Hamas took power in Gaza in 2007 and on October 7 the group led an attack on Israel that left Israeli authorities saying about 1,200 people were killed. Israel aims to destroy Hamas and free the hostages taken in the attack, about 100 of whom are believed to still be in captivity.
According to experts, the Israeli army caused serious damage to the armed wing of Hamas. At the same time, Israeli airstrikes and fighting have left much of Gaza in ruins, and the United Nations says the population, most of whom have been forced to flee their homes, faces starvation.
Active fighting has eased on the strip and many Israeli soldiers have left, but Hamas and Israeli officials say war is ongoing. have not completed yet. Analysts say the war appears to have entered a new phase, with Israel continuing to conduct small-scale operations to prevent the rise of Hamas.
