Emmanuel OchayiIn a sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles toward Israel, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow victory amidst the growing crisis.
The attack, which targeted Israeli military facilities, was seen as retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus earlier this month.
Netanyahu, in a statement posted on social media, declared, “We intercepted, we repelled, together we shall win,” as the Israeli military claimed to have shot down almost all of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran. The attack, which Tehran justified as punishment for “Israeli crimes,” has raised concerns of a wider regional conflict.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza has already heightened tensions in the region, with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi group joining in with rocket attacks on Israeli targets. These actions threaten to escalate into a confrontation involving Iran and its regional allies against Israel and its main supporter, the United States.
In response to Iran’s aggression, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel and its allies against any “reckless” actions, stating, “If the Zionist regime (Israel) or its supporters demonstrate reckless behavior, they will receive a decisive and much stronger response.”
READ ALSO: Netanyahu Declares ‘Victory within Reach’ As Israel Prepares For Ground Assault In Gaza
The situation has prompted international concern, with the United States convening a meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven major economies to coordinate a diplomatic response. US President Joe Biden emphasized that while the US does not seek conflict with Iran, it will not hesitate to act to protect its forces and support the defense of Israel.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to discuss the crisis, with Israel calling for condemnation of Iran’s attack and the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, several countries including the European Union, Britain, Japan, and France have already condemned Iran’s actions.
As tensions continue to rise, neighboring countries like Jordan have heightened their defenses, fearing being dragged into the conflict. Syria, an ally of Iran, has also put its defense systems on high alert.
With the situation evolving rapidly, the world watches nervously as the Iran-Israel crisis threatens to engulf the region in further turmoil.
