TENSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
The historic tense relationship between Israel and Iran had a new chapter this Tuesday (1st October) after Tehran’s attacks against Israel, worrying the international community. The UN Security Council (United Nations) called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East on Wednesday (Oct 2).
The Iranian offensive took place in response to the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, an extremist group that controls regions of Lebanon. The Lebanese group is an ally of Iran, being financed by Tehran and accused of maintaining a “proxy war” against Israel.
In September, Israel killed several Hezbollah leaders, including the group’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, frustrating the Iranian government.
The already tense relationship between Israel and Iran worsened after agents from the Israel Defense Forces began a ground offensive in the Arab country on Monday (September 30). According to the Israeli government, the operation is “limited, localized and targeted” against targets “terrorists” and Hezbollah infrastructure close to the border between the countries.
Thus, at around 1:30 pm (Brasília time), Iran began launching missiles at Israel. The attack, however, was premeditated by the United States, which helped the Israelis defend themselves. The IDF reported that there were impacts “isolated” in central Israel and several others in the south of the country, but did not provide further details.
The context of tension between Tel Aviv and Tehran, however, is not unprecedented. In April, for example, the nations exchanged attacks after the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, was bombed.
The Persian country also supports Hamas, a Palestinian group that is an enemy of Israel that controls the Gaza Strip, and claims that the Israeli defense forces commit “genocide” in the enclave.
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