Israel finds itself embroiled in what its Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, describes as a "multi-front war," indicating potential military engagements across the Middle East. Recent developments in the Gaza conflict suggest an alarming escalation with regional implications, according to a media report.
Addressing the Parliament on Tuesday, Gallant highlighted that Israel faces threats from seven fronts, namely Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (referring to the West Bank), Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. He emphasized that Israel has already taken action in six of these theaters, although specifics were not disclosed, as reported by The Guardian.
The conflict intensified after Iran-allied militias, responding to Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel that claimed 1,140 lives and resulted in up to 250 hostages, targeted Israel and US military installations throughout the region.
Gallant's remarks coincide with the Gaza war displaying signs of extending beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories. Egypt reported the downing of a drone near the Red Sea resort city of Dahab, the second incident of its kind within a month. Although the drone's origin remains unclear, Yemen's Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have previously disrupted global trade in the Red Sea and launched attacks on international vessels, including drones and missiles aimed at Israel.
Explosions off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea were reported on Tuesday. Furthermore, the US Department of Defense, on Saturday, explicitly attributed a drone attack on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean to Iran for the first time.
These developments underscore the complexity and widening scope of the conflicts in the Middle East, with Israel confronting multifaceted challenges on several fronts, both in response to specific incidents and as part of a broader regional dynamic.
(With Agency Inputs)
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