(Dan Tri) – Israel’s fighting on three fronts in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria raises concerns about the risk of widespread conflict in the Middle East.
Israeli tanks gather near the Gaza Strip (Photo: Reuters).
After attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on this group.
According to Business Insider, the conflict is spreading to neighboring Lebanon and Syria as Israel increases air strikes on the two Arab countries.
The US sent more military assets to the region to increase support for Israeli forces after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned of `recent escalation by Iran and its proxies`.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, has been fighting Israeli forces on Lebanon’s northern border with Israel.
The day after Israel declared war, Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at Israeli positions in support of the `Palestinian resistance`.
Israel also targeted Damascus and Aleppo international airports in Syria, where Iran maintains a military presence.
`We are concerned about the potential for escalation. In fact, what we are seeing… is the risk of a significant escalation of attacks against our troops and civilians across the region.
Austin said Washington will also send more troops and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system as well as additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to Israel.
The US Defense Secretary said he had called on Israeli officials, especially Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to `conduct their activities in accordance with the laws of war`.
Meanwhile, Israel is still gathering soldiers and equipment near the area bordering the Gaza Strip in preparation for a full-scale ground attack on this area.
`We will enter the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas activities and Hamas infrastructure,` Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers.
AP reported that Gaza health authorities said the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza had reached more than 4,300 people after Israel conducted a `comprehensive siege` of the strip of land.
Violence has also escalated in the West Bank, with more than 90 Palestinians believed to have been killed in the area since the conflict began.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned the US and Israel on October 22 that `if crimes against humanity do not stop immediately, there is a possibility that the region will spiral out of control at any time.`
During a press conference in Tehran, Mr. Amir-Abdollahian warned that the Middle East could become a `gunpowder barrel`.
`Any miscalculation in continuing offensive operations and forced evacuations could have serious and dire consequences, both in the region and for the belligerents,` the official said.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also warned that the diplomatic door to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict is gradually closing, and this war is at risk of spreading to other fronts.
Iran is believed to support Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip.
