Iran warns of retaliation as Israeli strikes intensify across Lebanon, Syria

[craig nigrelli]

IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS COMMANDER, HOSSEIN SALAMI, WARNED ISRAEL ON THURSDAY THAT ANY AGGRESSION AGAINST THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC WOULD BE MET WITH EQUAL FORCE. THE WARNING COMES AS ISRAEL RAMPS UP ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE IRANIAN-BACKED MILITANT GROUP HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, FOLLOWING A MISSILE BARRAGE LAUNCHED BY IRAN IN EARLY OCTOBER.

THE CONFLICT HAS BEEN ESCALATING IN RECENT WEEKS, WITH ISRAEL STRIKING TARGETS IN LEBANON AND SYRIA, INCLUDING HEZBOLLAH STRONGHOLDS AND IRANIAN-BACKED MILITANTS. ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT OPERATIONS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ITS CITIZENS NEAR THE LEBANESE BORDER ARE SAFE.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES IN LEBANON HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 2,350 PEOPLE OVER THE LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE HEALTH MINISTRY, AND MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED. AROUND 50 ISRAELIS, BOTH SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS, HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE SAME PERIOD.

Meanwhile – THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA HAS WORSENED, WITH ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES KILLING 11 PALESTINIANS ON THURSDAY. SHORTAGES OF FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES HAVE PLAGUED THE REGION, AND ISRAELI FORCES HAVE DEPLOYED TANKS INTO NORTHERN GAZA, ESCALATING THEIR ASSAULT ON HAMAS.

THE US HAS BEEN WORKING TO REDUCE TENSIONS, WITH DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN SPEAKING TO ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER ON WEDNESDAY ABOUT ISRAEL’S OPERATIONS IN LEBANON AND GAZA, AIMING TO AVERT A REGIONAL WAR.

DESPITE THESE EFFORTS, ISRAEL SHOWS NO SIGNS OF EASING ITS MILITARY CAMPAIGNS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS. ON THURSDAY, THE ISRAELI MILITARY ISSUED EVACUATION WARNINGS FOR RESIDENTS OF THE BEKAA VALLEY IN EASTERN LEBANON, FOCUSING ON THREE BUILDINGS WHERE HEZBOLLAH MAINTAINS FACILITIES.