On Saturday, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon shortly after rockets were launched from Lebanon towards Israel. The Israeli government stated that the targets were associated with Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran. One of the Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including a child.
Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the rocket launches, which did not manage to breach Israeli air defense systems. This exchange of fire marks the most intense conflict since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah last November; however, Israel has continued its strikes on Lebanon to eliminate militant threats.
This incident is part of a pattern indicating a resurgence of tensions in the Middle East, particularly after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza broke down. Following Israel’s recent decision to not honor its commitment to lift the blockade on Gaza, the Houthis, a militant faction in Yemen supported by Iran, indicated their intent to resume attacks on maritime targets in the Red Sea. The Houthis had been launching these attacks in solidarity with Palestinians since the onset of the conflict in Gaza in November 2023, but had paused their actions once the ceasefire took effect in January.
Last week, the United States initiated a series of airstrikes in Yemen aimed at mitigating the influence of the Houthis, with President Donald Trump cautioning Tehran that he would view Houthi attacks as being backed by Iran. Experts suggest that the escalating tensions could hinder Trump’s plans for negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran or potentially escalate into a conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
