The fear of an all-out conflict in the Middle East mounted on Sunday as Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah claimed it launched dozens of Katyusha rockets at northern Israel. Though many of the projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, several impacts were recognised, especially in the Beit Hillel region, according to local media reports.
This comes as the US senior defence officials arrived in Israel on Saturday as the latter prepares for retribution from Iran and its proxies in Yemen, Gaza and Lebanon for the assassinations of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leaders. The Pentagon has also bolstered its presence in the Middle East by sending more warships and combat aircraft.
An amazing clip from earlier tonight when Israel's Iron Dome batteries fired multiple Tamir interceptors at Hezbollah rockets targeting northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/lcbIH9shwM
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) August 4, 2024
This is not a game. This is our reality.
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) August 3, 2024
Hezbollah has just fired approximately 50 rockets toward civilians in northern Israel with the intent to kill as many Israelis as possible.
Hezbollah must be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/mUDg6CRWJE
Israel has not claimed or denied responsibility for the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. It is also unclear if Iran and Hezbollah will conduct a coordinated attack or operate separately. Both the US and Israel believe that Iran and Hezbollah are still working on finalising their military plans and approving them at the political level.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israelis that "challenging days lie ahead." "We have heard threats from all sides. We are prepared for any scenario," he said.
However, U.S. President Joe Biden said he hoped Iran would stand down despite its threat to avenge the assassinations of Haniyeh and Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah military commander. When asked by reporters whether Iran would stand down, Biden said on Saturday in response to a shouted question, "I hope so. I don't know."
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Beirut has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon on "any ticket available" a day after the UK issued a similar advisory. The Indian Embassy in Beirut on Thursday strongly advised Indian nationals against travelling to or staying in Lebanon till further notice.
Houthis target container ship
A suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck a container ship travelling through the Gulf of Aden, authorities said on Sunday. This is the first attack by Houthis on a merchant vessel since Iran and its proxies warned Israel of retribution.
The attack on Saturday happened some 225 kilometres (140 miles) southeast of Aden in a stretch of the Gulf of Aden. Though a missile struck the vessel, there has been no fire, water ingress or oil leaks, said
British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre.
The UKMTO did not immediately identify the vessel hit but details released by private security firm Ambrey suggested the vessel targeted was the Liberian-flagged container ship Groton, which had left Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Groton's Greek managers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
