In a dramatic escalation that has widened its military footprint far beyond its borders, Israel has launched strikes in six countries within just 72 hours: Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar, and Yemen raising fears of a broader regional war.
The Israeli military has defended the operations, insisting that they targeted “terror infrastructure, Hamas leadership, and Hezbollah facilities” across the region. Critics, however, accuse Israel of breaching international law, striking civilian infrastructure, and dragging neighbouring states into a widening conflict.
Gaza Bombardment Intensifies
Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza, where bombardments since Monday have killed at least 150 people and wounded more than 540 others. Among the dead were 14 people killed while seeking humanitarian aid and six including two children who succumbed to famine-related causes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its strikes focused on Hamas command posts and weapons depots in Gaza City. “We are dismantling Hamas’s operational capacity in Gaza and will not allow them to regroup,” the military said in a statement.
Palestinian officials dispute this, saying residential towers, hospitals, and vital infrastructure have been destroyed, displacing thousands with no safe shelter. Since October 2023, the war has killed at least 64,656 Palestinians, including more than 400 from starvation, with thousands more buried under rubble.
Strike in Lebanon Despite Ceasefire
On Monday, Israeli jets struck the Bekaa and Hermel districts of eastern Lebanon, killing at least five people. Israel claimed it hit Hezbollah weapons depots and rocket-launching sites.
“This was a preemptive strike against Hezbollah infrastructure being used to prepare cross-border attacks,” the Israeli military said.
The strikes violated a November 2024 ceasefire agreement, under which Israel was expected to withdraw from five occupied border outposts. Hezbollah has yet to respond officially but local officials condemned the attacks as a breach of sovereignty.
Syrian Bases Targeted
Late Monday night, Israeli warplanes hit several sites in Syria, including a Syrian air force base in Homs and a barracks near Latakia.
Israel said the operation targeted “Iranian-backed militias and weapons transfers through Syrian military facilities.” However, Syria’s Foreign Ministry described the raids as a “blatant violation of sovereignty” and a deliberate attempt to destabilise the region.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed the strikes and said Israel has already conducted nearly 100 attacks this year in Syria, destroying 135 sites and killing 61 people.
Tunisia: Gaza Flotilla Under Fire
Two ships belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla an international coalition challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza, were attacked by suspected Israeli drones off Tunisia’s coast.
On Monday night, the Family Boat, docked at Sidi Bou Said, was hit, causing fire damage. On Tuesday, another ship, the Alma, sailing under a UK flag, was also struck in Tunisian waters.
Israel has not officially commented on the Tunisian incidents. However, analysts suggest the flotilla was perceived by Israel as aiding Hamas by attempting to breach the blockade.
All activists and crew were unharmed. The coalition condemned the attacks as “piracy in foreign waters.”
Qatar: Strike During Ceasefire Talks
In one of the most controversial moves, Israel targeted a Hamas leadership compound in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. The strike killed six people, including the son of senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and a Qatari security officer.
The IDF said the target was “a meeting of Hamas operatives planning further attacks against Israel,” stressing that senior Hamas leaders were the intended focus.
But Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation of sovereignty” — especially as the compound was hosting talks about a US-proposed Gaza ceasefire. Observers fear the attack could jeopardise Qatar’s role as mediator.
Yemen: Sanaa Airport Hit Again
On Wednesday, Israeli jets hit Yemen’s Sanaa airport, striking Houthi positions. Israel described the strike as retaliation for Houthi missile launches against Eilat and Ashdod in southern Israel.
“The Houthis, backed by Iran, are actively threatening Israeli cities. We will not allow this to continue unchecked,” the IDF said.
It was the second attack on the airport in a month, following a May raid that destroyed its terminal. The August 28 strike also killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi.
Global Reactions
The Arab League condemned Israel’s regional strikes as “reckless acts of aggression that threaten to engulf the Middle East in chaos.”
Qatar warned that the Doha attack was a direct assault on international diplomacy, while Tunisia described the flotilla strikes as “state terrorism on its sovereign waters.”
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said he was “gravely concerned” by Israel’s actions and urged restraint, warning that the spread of violence “undermines all ceasefire efforts.”
The United States, while reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defense, privately signaled unease about the strike in Qatar, which occurred just 35km from its CENTCOM base.
The European Union called for “urgent de-escalation,” with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warning: “The region is sliding dangerously toward a multi-front war.”
A Conflict Spilling Beyond Borders
Analysts say Israel’s strikes on six countries in three days underscore a dangerous widening of the Gaza war into a full-blown regional conflict. While Israel insists it is targeting Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed forces, the collateral damage, sovereignty violations, and diplomatic fallout risk dragging multiple nations into open confrontation.
With over 64,000 Palestinians already dead and violence spreading from North Africa to the Gulf, the Middle East faces its gravest crisis in decades.
Daily Courier culled from Al Jazeera
