Israel is preparing for multiple simultaneous attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran, as tensions escalate in the region. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is engaged in a “multifront war against Iran’s axis of evil.” The situation has deteriorated following the deaths of prominent Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. A recent strike in Tehran resulted in the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, an ally of Hezbollah. While Iran and Hamas blame Israel for this incident, Israel has not denied its involvement. Additionally, an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon killed top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, and Israel has confirmed that Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamas’ military wing, was killed in a July airstrike in Gaza.
In April, the conflict intensified when Iran retaliated against an Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals in Syria by launching over 300 rockets at Israel. Most of these rockets were intercepted by Israeli and US-led coalition forces.
In response to the escalating conflict, the United States is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East. This includes deploying a fighter jet squadron and maintaining an aircraft carrier in the region to support Israel. Meanwhile, a stabbing attack near Tel Aviv on Sunday resulted in the deaths of a woman in her 70s and an 80-year-old man, with two others injured. The attacker, identified as a Palestinian militant, was neutralized by the police.
In Gaza, an Israeli strike on two schools killed at least 25 people and injured 19 others. Israel claimed that the schools were used as Hamas command centers. The violence has prompted several foreign airlines, including Delta, United, Lufthansa, and Air India, to suspend flights to and from Israel. Israel’s national carrier, El Al, is working to increase flights to evacuate citizens, and boats are also being considered for evacuation.
Jordan’s foreign minister recently visited Tehran in a rare diplomatic effort to prevent the conflict from expanding further. Jordan, a close Western ally, has assisted in intercepting missiles and drones fired by Iran towards Israel. Additionally, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a strike on a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, marking the first such attack since Israel’s recent strike on Hodeida port.
In response to the escalating violence, a senior Biden administration official has urged Israel to renew cease-fire negotiations with Gaza, citing the increased risk of a broader regional conflict. An Israeli delegation led by the intelligence chief visited Egypt for talks on the Gaza conflict but did not achieve any significant progress. The ongoing tensions have also led to a rise in oil prices, with Brent crude exceeding $77 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate trading near $74.