The conflict in West Asia reached new heights on Saturday as Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Beirut. Tensions flared after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared that Iran and its allies would not back down in a war that now threatens to spread across the region, with potentially severe global consequences.
The southern suburbs of Beirut, especially areas near the airport, were rocked by a series of loud blasts last evening. The Israeli army had issued fresh evacuation orders, signalling the likelihood of intensified military action.
Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militant group, has been engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli troops along the Lebanon-Israel border. In one of the latest confrontations, Hezbollah operatives thwarted Israeli soldiers’ attempts to approach the village of Adaysseh. According to a statement from Hezbollah, their fighters were able to repel Israeli forces during a ground raid in the area.
No access to hospitals
As the fighting escalated, the humanitarian situation worsened. Three hospitals in Lebanon were forced to suspend operations due to the extensive damage caused by Israeli strikes. Lebanon’s Prime Minister called on the international community to step in and pressure Israel to allow rescuers access to areas ravaged by the bombing.
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The conflict, which has now expanded beyond the Gaza Strip, pits Israel against both Palestine and Lebanon, the latter being a key player in the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance.” What started as a sudden attack by Hamas on October 7 has spiralled into a broader regional war. The Hamas operation, called the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood,’ targeted Israeli border towns, leading to a fierce Israeli response. Shortly after the Hamas offensive, Hezbollah entered the conflict, launching its own attacks on Israeli positions from southern Lebanon, further complicating the situation.
Ayatollah Khamenei public address
In a rare public sermon on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei voiced strong support for Hezbollah and Hamas, insisting that Iran’s allies would not retreat in the face of Israeli aggression. Khamenei also defended Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, claiming that the Jewish state “would not last long.” His words sent a clear signal that Iran remains firmly committed to the war, despite mounting international concern.
On the ground, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reported significant advances in their military operations. Israeli forces have been conducting ground raids into Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah strongholds. In their latest update, the IDF claimed to have destroyed over 2,000 military targets and eliminated 250 Hezbollah operatives, including more than a dozen top commanders. These strikes have dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah, with Israeli officials confirming that former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike a week ago.
US intervention
Iran’s missile barrage on Israel earlier this week has marked a dangerous new phase in the conflict. Israel has vowed to hit back even harder, raising fears that the fighting could spread to Iran’s oil and nuclear infrastructure. Already, the impact of the war is being felt globally, with concerns over disrupted oil supplies driving up prices.
As the situation deteriorates, global leaders are being forced to respond. US President Joe Biden has advised Israel against targeting Iran’s oil facilities, warning that such actions could have severe economic repercussions. However, former US President Donald Trump, who is running for re-election in November, has taken a different stance. Trump openly called for Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in retaliation for the missile attacks, highlighting the sharp divisions in the international response to the conflict.
The war in West Asia continues to unfold, with no clear end in sight. With Israel now engaged in battles on multiple fronts and the involvement of powerful regional players like Iran, the ramifications of this conflict could be far-reaching. The world watches anxiously as the situation in Beirut and beyond continues to escalate.