One week for escalation. Since 7 October last year, there has been no shortage of fears of a widening of the conflict triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel that day. But never before have we feared for the Middle East. Immediately after the attack in Israel at dawn on October 7, which cost the lives of almost 1,200 people according to Israeli data, Israeli military operations began in the Gaza Strip against Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian enclave in 2007. Here, according to reports from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, there have been 41,825 deaths and 96,910 injuries since then. And in the Gaza Strip, dozens of people kidnapped in the attack on 7 October a year ago remain hostage. The following day the Lebanese Hezbollah, Iran’s sponsor like Hamas, also ‘took to the field’ with cross-border attacks against Israel.
Friday 27 September – The leader of Hezbollah, Hasan Nasrallah, is killed in an Israeli raid on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut, in a bunker in the historic stronghold of the Party of God. The following day Lebanese security sources confirmed the discovery of his body, intact, ten days have passed since the explosions of Hezbollah’s pagers with the start of what has been called the “new phase of the war”. Since the killing of Nasrallah, all hopes of de-escalation have collapsed, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returning to Israel early from the United States where on the sidelines of the work of the UN General Assembly there was talk of a proposal to cease the 21 day fire. Precisely at that moment the order to kill Nasrallah was given, when Israel had already ‘decimated’ Hezbollah’s ranks.
Monday 30 September – During the night between Monday and Tuesday, the Israeli forces (IDF) confirmed a “limited and targeted” ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. In the Land of the Cedars, according to official data from Beirut, there are at least 1.2 million displaced people. And, the Lebanese say, over 2,000 deaths, most in the last two weeks. The Israeli military estimates it killed around 400 Hezbollah fighters. Appeals are multiplying for respect – “not only in words, but also in deeds” – of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 which in 2006 put an end to the 34 days of war between Israel and Hezbollah. Unifil, the UN force in southern Lebanon of which the Italian contingent is part, “maintains its positions”.
Tuesday 1 October – Iran launched its missile attack against Israel, “in response to the martyrdom” of Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh, who died in July in Tehran. Nearly 200 missiles were launched against Israel. The US and the UK intervened ‘in support’ of the Israeli defense system. Most of the missiles were intercepted. The only victim was a Palestinian from the West Bank.
Wednesday 2 October – Israel confirms the death of eight soldiers in southern Lebanon, the first killed since the ground incursions began. US President Joe Biden makes it clear that he does not agree with any Israeli raids against Iranian nuclear sites and stresses that the response to the Iranian attack “must be proportionate”.
Thursday 3 October – On the night between Thursday and Friday, a heavy air raid in the southern outskirts of Beirut hits Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, according to Israeli forces. According to the New York Times, the target was Hashem Safieddine, Nasrallah’s possible successor at the helm of the Party of God. There continues to be no certainty about his fate.
Friday 4 October – The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, returns to lead Friday prayers in Tehran, after a ceremony in memory of Nasrallah. He defines the October 7 attack in Israel as “legitimate”. “If necessary we will attack occupied Palestine again”, he threatens on the same day that the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, lands in Beirut for the first visit since the escalation.
Saturday 5 October – For the first time, an Israeli raid on northern Lebanon is reported. Hamas reports the killing of a commander of its armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, in an operation against the Beddawi refugee camp, near Tripoli. Together with him, the group claims, his wife and two daughters were killed.
#Middle #East #flames #nightmare #total #war #grows #Lebanon #attack #October