The Middle East is heating up. Fears are growing of an increasing spiral of conflict principally between Israel and Iran, which is already sucking in other regional states as well as international actors like the UK and the US.
The immediate backdrop here is the brutal 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,000 people and included the taking of hundreds of hostages. Israel swiftly responded with a full-on assault on Gaza, which has killed many thousands more and destroyed swathes of infrastructure.
Iran has long been a key funder of Hamas, as well as Hezbollah, the terrorist group/political party in Lebanon that has engaged in multiple skirmishes and conflicts. Iran has also funded and supplied the Houthis in Yemen with weapons and allied know how, allowing them not only to terrorise Yemeni civilians but to increasingly target international shipping.
The point is that the so-called “shadow” war between Iran and Israel has been going on for decades. Escalation into the situation we are witnessing today was always likely to occur – but how bad will it get?
On 1 April, Israel bombed Iran’s consulate in Syria, killing senior Iranian generals. Iran enacted its response on 13 April, launching more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel. Though Iran has sponsored organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah, which have attacked Israel on thousands of occasions, this was Iran’s first ever direct attack on the Jewish state.
Esta historia es de la edición April 17, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 17, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Hamilton is the big draw for a London spin on F1 show
Prior to the Drive to Survive era that triggered the sport’s unprecedented boom, one of Liberty Media’s first ventures as Formula One’s bright-eyed American owners came in the summer of 2017.
'In France, I lead a much easier, much simpler life'
Former Premier League star Andy Carroll speaks to Dani Gil about his topsy-turvy career, and his new start at Bordeaux
Breaking point: a title era is ending before our very eyes
Blame Antonio Conte, perhaps. The former Chelsea manager was not the pioneer but he was a trailblazer.
Withdrawals force Carsley to blood youth in Greece tie
It is an England football team, if not the England team that will take the field in Athens on Thursday night. Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish is a line-up that would require a false nine.
Is this a megajob too much for even Musk to handle?
Just when you thought Elon Musk’s involvement in politics was over after he helped to secure the election of his new BFF, Donald Trump, it was announced that he is going to be a key figure in the running of the US for the foreseeable future.
Fuller's boss warns of price rises after Budget tax hike
A major pub chain has joined the growing list of hospitality businesses warning of price rises due to Labour’s Budget.
Post Office shake-up puts 115 branches under threat
Move affecting 1,000 workers is tone deaf’ says union boss
High alert as Costa del Sol residents flee fresh storms
Fresh storms in Spain have left streets deluged and forced schools to close, two weeks after the worst floods in the country’s modern history, which killed more than 220 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
Senior Russian naval officer dies in Crimea car bombing
A senior Russian naval officer has been killed in a car bombing in occupied Crimea the latest in a series of targeted attacks on Russian military personnel.
Europe faces a bigger threat level if US warms to Putin
According to anonymous sources quoted in The Washington Post, one of Donald Trump’s first actions on being re-elected was to call Vladimir Putin. That call was immediately denied by the Kremlin.
