The recent escalation in regional conflict has been marked by two significant events: an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah positions in Beirut and a targeted attack in Tehran that resulted in the death of Hamas’s political leader. These incidents have intensified fears that further regional conflict is inevitable.
The Israeli military launched an airstrike against Hezbollah positions in southern Beirut following rocket attacks on northern Israel that targeted a sports field. The attack resulted in the death of Fouad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander and close advisor to Hassan Nasrallah.
The BBC reported that Hezbollah is considered the “most powerful non-state military force,” and the killing of its senior commander has increased the likelihood of retaliatory attacks.
Simultaneously, a suspicious attack in Iran led to the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, along with one of his bodyguards.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Supreme Leader condemned the attack as a violation of their sovereignty and threatened Israel with “severe punishment.” Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated, “We consider avenging his death, which occurred on Iranian soil, to be our duty.”
Following the attack, the New York Times reported that Khamenei ordered the Iranian National Security Council to target Israel “directly” in retaliation for Haniyeh’s assassination. Iranian diplomats at the United Nations and other international forums have indicated that a decisive response from Iran is being planned.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack in Tehran but has indicated readiness to face any potential threats.
While the United Nations and many countries have urged restraint to prevent further escalation, independent Iranian media have noted the potential “weak” position of Iran in this ongoing conflict.
The editor of Independent Persian has suggested that the “ideological and sectarian nature” of the Iranian government means it will avoid testing its survival through war with Israel and the United States.
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