Israel's Multi-Front Attacks
Over the past weekend, Israel has been actively striking on multiple fronts. It has broadened its airstrikes on Beirut following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and has also launched attacks on Yemen and Syria.
Late last week and into Saturday, Yemen's Iran-linked Houthis announced the launch of several ballistic missiles toward Tel Aviv, which Israel's military claimed were intercepted. On Friday, three US warships in the Red Sea were targeted with simultaneous rocket attacks from the Houthis.
Houthis Target US Warships
According to The Maritime Executive, the Houthis claimed they had targeted three U.S. warships, identified as the guided missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Stockdale, and the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis. U.S. officials confirmed that warships in the Red Sea were targeted in what could be the largest barrage since the conflict with the Houthis in Yemen began nearly 10 months ago.
Israeli Airstrike on Yemen's Hodeidah Port
On Sunday, Israeli jets, with the assistance of US military intelligence, conducted a massive airstrike on Yemen's key port of Hodeidah. The attack, which happened in the early evening local time, targeted "sensitive" Houthi facilities. Yemen's Health Ministry announced that at least four people were killed and 40 others injured in the Israeli raid.
Israeli media confirmed that this was the largest Israeli strike on Yemen since the conflict began in October last year. Dozens of Israeli aircraft, including F-15I fighter planes, participated in the operation, striking 1,800 kilometers from Israeli territory after the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles on Tel Aviv and central Israel areas in recent weeks.
Netanyahu's UN Speech
During his Friday speech at the United Nations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country is fighting a war on seven fronts. He explained that “the blessing” was establishing a “landbridge” from India to Israel, which requires Saudi Arabia to enter the Abraham Accords and normalize ties with Israel.
In his speech, Netanyahu presented a map titled “the curse,” which represented five countries in black: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. He claimed that Tehran was working to eliminate Tel Aviv using its allies in the region, presenting the conflict as a battle between forces of civilization against barbarism.
Attacks on Listed Countries
Netanyahu is now targeting the very countries he listed in his speech. According to more details from Yemeni sources, the army said “dozens of air force aircraft” struck power plants and sea port facilities at the Ras Isa and Hodeidah ports. The attacks killed at least four people and wounded 30 others.
On Sunday, there was another Israeli raid on Syria, which reportedly targeted a base with 'pro-Iranian' assets on the outskirts of the capital Damascus. At least seven pro-Iran militants were injured in the strike, which occurred near the Syria-Lebanon border.
Expanded Strikes in Lebanon
On Monday, Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon to include targeted attacks on central Beirut, a first since the 2006 war. The targets included three senior figures in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The leftist group confirmed that its officials Mohammed Abdel Aal, Emad Odeh, and Abdel Rahman Abdel Aal were killed in Beirut's Cola district.
Escalation in the Middle East
In the midst of this escalating situation, Iran-backed paramilitaries in Iraq are increasing attempts to directly attack Israel, with a fresh drone operation against Israel's port city of Haifa. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed it attacked four Israeli targets in response to Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Gaza.
Despite the escalating situation in Yemen and the Red Sea, the US Commander-in-Chief appears to be unaware of the developments.
In northern Israel, the IDF continues to build up forces along the border with Lebanon and in the Golan region, in anticipation of a potential ground invasion. There have also been repeated incursions into Lebanese territory by Israeli special forces troops. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has continued sporadic missile fire into northern Israel.
Netanyahu's Warning
On Monday, Netanyahu issued a new warning: "There is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach. There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country," he said, describing that Israel is in "a war for our very existence."
Bottom Line
The situation in the Middle East is rapidly escalating with Israel launching attacks on multiple fronts. The question remains how this will impact the region's stability and international relations. What are your thoughts on these developments? Share this article with your friends and let's get the conversation started. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
