The Middle East is on the brink of a full-blown regional war as tensions between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran escalate following a series of pager blasts and targeted assassinations. The conflict, which has centered around the Israel-Gaza war, is now expanding to include Lebanon, Iran, and other regional players.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant described the recent developments as “the onset of a new phase,” with hostilities shifting towards northern Israel, where Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon, has been engaging in daily exchanges of fire with Israel. Israeli warplanes recently targeted Hezbollah sites, intensifying the conflict.
The blasts, reportedly part of a Mossad operation, killed over 30 Hezbollah members and injured nearly 3,000. Lebanon condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty, while Hezbollah vowed “just punishment,” launching rockets into Israeli territory.
The assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has also inflamed tensions with Iran, a staunch ally of both Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran, still reeling from the killing and the pager blasts that critically injured its envoy in Lebanon, is contemplating a retaliatory strike.
Efforts to broker peace, led by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, have stalled. With over 41,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza and fears of a wider conflict mounting, experts warn the situation could spiral into a larger war across the Middle East.
