Iran has warned Israel that any retaliation for an earlier missile attack will be met with equal force, escalating concerns of a broader Middle East conflict. Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said Thursday, Oct. 17, that Iran could penetrate Israel’s defenses if Israeli aggression continues. The warning follows a missile barrage launched by Iran in early October, which has prompted Israel to intensify its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, aimed at targeting Hezbollah, a Tehran-backed militant group, have escalated tensions in the region. Israeli airstrikes have also expanded to hit Hezbollah strongholds in Syria, including the Latakia port, and areas in Yemen controlled by Iran-aligned Houthi forces.
Israel has made it clear that its operations against Hezbollah will continue until its citizens near the Lebanese border are safe.
Over the past year, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in more than 2,350 deaths and displaced over 1.2 million people, according to health officials. Hezbollah missile attacks during the same period have killed approximately 50 Israelis. On Thursday, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for civilians in eastern Lebanon, urging them to leave buildings controlled by Hezbollah.
The United States has been working to prevent a further escalation of violence. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in an effort to de-escalate the situation and avoid a broader regional conflict. Despite these efforts, Israel continues its military operations in Lebanon and Gaza.
In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 11 Palestinians on Thursday, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region. Shortages of food and medical supplies have plagued Gaza, and Israeli forces have deployed tanks into northern areas as they escalate their assault on Hamas.
