Despite the military superiority of the United States and Israel, Iran seems determined to continue the war in the Middle East, which for now far from seeing a near end threatens to spread to Lebanon. Tehran, which has rejected any negotiations with Washington and has already launched drone and missile attacks against at least a dozen neighbouring countries, has in recent hours attacked the US embassy in Baghdad as well as Fujairah, a port city in the UAE that is home to a major Emirati terminal for the storage and export of crude oil.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard – the country’s most powerful and influential military force – warned on Saturday that US military installations in the United Arab Emirates will be considered legitimate targets, after the United States launched a bombing raid on Kharg Island, a key territory for Iran’s oil industry from which the Iranian regime ships about 90% of its oil exports.
The attack is aimed at pressuring Iran to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea passage between Iran and Oman through which 20% of the world’s oil transits, although Tehran assures that the strait remains open to oil tankers and ships from allied countries or those not involved in the attacks against Iran.
Although Donald Trump has assured that the war in the Middle East is nearing its end, in what analysts interpret as a step backwards in the face of the growing internal pressure he is facing in the United States due to the consequences of the conflict, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has come out against this by stressing that the war against Iran has entered a “decisive stretch” and that it will “continue as long as necessary”.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that more than 3 million people have fled their homes in Iran since the US and Israel launched attacks on the country on 28 February, with no quick or clear way out of the conflict so far.
More than 800 dead in Lebanon
At the same time in Lebanon, more than 800 people – including around 100 children – have been killed in Israeli attacks and another 800,000 have been displaced by the conflict, according to Lebanese authorities.
Israeli state television KAN reported this week, quoted by Turkish media, that Israel will launch a large-scale ground operation in Lebanon next week with the aim of taking control of southern Lebanon and establishing strategic positions in the region. The reports also indicated that Netanyahu‘s security cabinet will consider the scope of the Israeli advance into Lebanese territory and the expected duration of the military operation.
Lebanon has been embroiled in the Iran-Israel-US conflict since 10 days ago, when Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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