The escalating tensions in the Middle East have taken a dramatic turn as Israel expands its military campaign beyond Lebanon. While the death toll in Lebanon has tragically surpassed 100, Israel has opened a new front, unleashing a wave of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This expansion of the conflict has sparked widespread concern, fueling fears that what began as an Israeli-Hamas war is evolving into a larger regional conflict.
On Sunday, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported a grim toll, confirming that at least 105 people have been killed and over 359 injured in the ongoing Israeli offensive. The strikes, primarily targeting Iran-backed proxy groups, have further intensified the situation.
In a significant escalation, dozens of Israeli fighter jets descended upon the port of Hodeidah in Yemen on Sunday, launching rockets aimed at fuel facilities, power plants, and docks at the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports. This operation marked the largest military maneuver witnessed in the region during the almost year-long crisis.
Houthi news outlets confirmed that the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of four individuals and left 33 wounded. The strikes also caused widespread power outages across Hodeidah.
The strikes in Yemen came just 48 hours after Israel successfully executed an operation that claimed the life of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. This devastating blow left the Lebanese militant group in a state of disarray.
Israel continues its relentless offensive in Lebanon. A series of salvos were launched from Lebanon on Sunday, including one that Hezbollah claimed targeted a group of Israeli soldiers.
Amidst the chaos, a statement from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, issued after he monitored the strikes from an air force command center, declared: “Our message is clear. For us, no place is too far.”
The Israeli military confirmed that their air force had struck dozens of targets, including launchers and weapons stores. The navy simultaneously intercepted eight projectiles launched from Lebanon. The military emphasized that the strikes, concentrated in southern Lebanon, represented a tit-for-tat response to the attacks originating from the region.
Drones could be heard flying over all parts of the Lebanese capital overnight and throughout Sunday. On the same day, the Israeli military confirmed the death of Nabil Kaouk, the deputy chairman of Hezbollah’s executive council, in a strike. The Iran-backed group later confirmed his death, bringing the number of senior Hezbollah leaders killed in Israeli strikes over the last 10 days to seven. This grim count includes three founding members who had evaded death or detention for decades.
The recent strike came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the killing of Nasrallah was a necessary step to “change the balance of power in the region for years to come.” He declared, “Nasrallah was not a terrorist, he was the terrorist,” while warning of challenging days ahead.
