Israel’s latest attacks on neighboring countries come amid fears of a major conflict in the Middle East.
According to the Israeli military, Israel has carried out attacks on military infrastructure in Syria and Lebanon and fears that the country’s offensive against Hamas could lead to a wider conflict across the Middle East.
Israeli warplanes struck rocket launchers in Syria and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to earlier rocket fires into Israeli territory, the Israeli military said early Monday.
Israeli military officials provided no further information about the attacks, including possible casualties. Al Jazeera could not independently confirm the attacks or their impact.
The Israeli military has been involved in cross-border fighting with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and has launched repeated airstrikes in Syria since the start of its war against Hamas.
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מטוס קרב של צה״ל תקף לפני זמן קצר את המשגרים מהם בוצעו השיגורים משט ח סוריה לעבר שטח ישראל אמש pic.twitter.com/IBJ3So7vq0
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 29, 2023
The United States has also carried out attacks on Syria in response to a sharp increase in missile and drone attacks on its forces in Syria and Iraq, which it has blamed on Iran-backed proxy groups.
On Thursday, the Pentagon said it had carried out strikes on two facilities in Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-backed groups, after President Joe Biden previously vowed to respond to attacks on US personnel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned of regional escalation if Israel continues its war against Hamas, saying earlier this month: “Muslims and resistance forces are becoming impatient and no one can stop them.”
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the conflict “could extend beyond the borders of the Middle East” if Israel does not end its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday that there was a “real” risk that the war would escalate into a larger regional conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN on Saturday his country does not want the war to expand and it is “completely wrong” for Washington to blame Tehran for attacks on its forces without providing evidence.
Iran, which supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, has denied any involvement in Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel. U.S. and Israeli officials said they found no evidence of his involvement.
However, Iranian government officials congratulated the Palestinian armed group and called the surprise attack a victory for “the anti-Zionist resistance.”