Tensions in the Middle East have escalated significantly, following the new clash between Iran and the United States, while Israeli attacks in Lebanon and fighting in Yemen increase fears of a further expansion of the conflict in the region.
Iran has warned that any new American attack on its interests will receive an even stronger response. The speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, declared that “any aggression against Iran’s interests and security” would be met with a “faster, more intense and more painful” response.
The latest escalation came after the United States announced it had struck three Iranian tankers after Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles at two American warships. According to CENTCOM, a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer evaded the attacks and there were no casualties among American forces. The US later said it had disabled two Iranian tankers and destroyed a third in the Gulf of Oman.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that ballistic missiles had hit a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer, saying both ships were damaged and had left the area. Tehran says the US ships were obstructing the movement of Iranian vessels and participating in a naval blockade. This Iranian claim has not been independently confirmed.
Iranian leaders have made it clear that they have no intention of backing down in the face of American pressure. Ghalibaf declared that “the era of proportional responses is over,” while Iranian commanders have warned that attacks on American ships could become even more severe if Washington continues to strike Iranian assets.
In Lebanon, the situation has worsened despite a US-brokered ceasefire. Israeli attacks in the south of the country have killed at least seven people and wounded several others. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called the attacks a “dangerous escalation” and called on the United States and the international community to intervene to stop them.
According to Lebanese authorities, the attacks damaged civilian buildings and a Finance Ministry building, while a non-functioning hospital was also destroyed. Israel says the targets were Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons depots and that the strikes were carried out in response to a drone attack by the Iran-backed group.
Ndërkohë, në Bregun Perëndimor, kryeministri izraelit Benjamin Netanyahu ka urdhëruar çmontimin e rreth 100 vendbanimeve të vogla hebraike të ndërtuara pa autorizim zyrtar. Vendimi vjen në një kohë kur Uashingtoni po ushtron presion ndaj Izraelit për të ndërmarrë masa ndaj dhunës së kolonëve kundër palestinezëve.
Ambasadori amerikan në Izrael, Mike Huckabee, ka dënuar dhunën e kolonëve dhe i ka cilësuar autorët e akteve të dhunshme si terroristë, duke kërkuar që ata të përballen me pasoja të rënda. Reuters raporton se urdhri i Netanyahut lidhet drejtpërdrejt me presionin amerikan për të frenuar dhunën në Bregun Perëndimor.
Në Jemen, ndërkohë, përplasjet mes forcave pro-qeveritare dhe rebelëve Huthi të mbështetur nga Irani kanë shkaktuar më shumë se 140 viktima. Sipas burimeve ushtarake të të dyja palëve, luftimet në jugperëndim të vendit kanë shkaktuar dhjetëra viktima në radhët e forcave qeveritare dhe Huthive. Përshkallëzimi i luftimeve kërcënon më tej një nga korridoret strategjike të transportit detar në rajonin e Detit të Kuq.
Zhvillimet në Iran, Liban, Jemen dhe Bregun Perëndimor po ndodhin në të njëjtën kohë dhe kanë rritur ndjeshëm rrezikun që konflikti të zgjerohet përtej fronteve aktuale, ndërsa trafiku detar në Ngushticën e Hormuzit ka rënë në nivelet më të ulëta që prej muajit maj për shkak të përplasjeve mes forcave amerikane dhe iraniane.
