Israel strikes southern Beirut on eve of religious holiday
Conflict in the Middle East
Israel has launched air strikes on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on the eve of a religious holiday celebrated by the country's Shia Muslim community. The strike, which hit a mountainous area controlled by the powerful Hezbollah group, came a day after a deadly attack on an Israeli tanker in the Gulf of Oman. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack on the MV Helios Ray, which killed two crew members and was described by Israel as an act of terrorism. And the Israeli military said its bombardment was in response to a Hezbollah drone attack earlier on Sunday.
Hezbollah's response
Earlier on Sunday, Hezbollah said its fighters had seized an Israeli military drone flying over Lebanese territory, the first such incident in years. The Israeli military confirmed that a Hermes 450 drone had been flying in Lebanese airspace when it lost contact with Israeli authorities. Hezbollah published video footage showing its fighters proudly displaying the drone, which was decorated with Israeli flags. The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said the drone was on a "dangerous and aggressive mission" and warned that Israel was sending a message that it was ready to take aggressive action.
Tensions on the rise
The incident came a day after the Israeli military launched air strikes in Syria targeting the Syrian army's aerial defence batteries after one of its warplanes was shot down during a reconnaissance mission. Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria against Iranian and Hezbollah targets in recent years, but it has typically avoided striking Hezbollah in Lebanon, with one exception coming in August 2021 when it launched airstrikes against the group's missile depots.
So what's behind these latest strikes? And what could they mean for the region?
Analysis
The strikes suggest a dangerous escalation in the already heightened tensions between Israel and Iran and its proxies in the region. Israel has consistently warned that it will act to prevent Iran from establishing a permanent military presence in Syria and Lebanon.
The targeting of Hezbollah's drone capabilities is also significant. Drones have become a key source of tension between Israel and Iran. Israel has accused Iran of using drones to spy on its territory, while Iran has accused Israel of targeting its drone operations in Syria.
Hezbollah's seizure of an Israeli drone provides valuable intelligence and could help explain the timing and target of the Israeli strike.
All of this comes amid ongoing talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal, which have been stalled since March. Israel and other regional players, including Saudi Arabia, have expressed increasing skepticism that a deal is feasible, given Iran's accelerated nuclear program.
With tensions running high and the possibility of a renewed nuclear deal looking grim, the Middle East is once again poised on the brink of significant conflict.
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