TEHRAN: Fears of a widening conflict in the Middle East have intensified after a drone strike targeted a Hamas senior leader in Lebanon and twin explosions rocked an Iranian gathering, killing at least 103 persons. The developments come amid already heightened regional tensions triggered by the ongoing Israeli bombardments in the besieged Gaza Strip since October 7.
In Lebanon, the assassination of Hamas number two, Saleh al-Aruri, in a Beirut drone strike on Tuesday, has fueled accusations against Israel. Hezbollah has vowed retaliation against Israel, describing the attack as a “serious assault.”
Meanwhile, in Iran, twin explosions occurred near a mosque in the hometown of the late Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani, killing at least 103 people and injuring 140 others. The blasts targeted mourners commemorating the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination in a 2020 Baghdad drone strike. Iran has condemned the incident as a “cowardly” terrorist attack.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari declared a “very high state of readiness” in response to the escalating tensions. Israel and Iran, historical adversaries, have seen an increase in violence involving Iran-backed groups in various Middle Eastern countries.
The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza has further complicated the situation. Israeli strikes have killed more than 22,313 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 7.
As Israel faces accusations over the drone strike in Lebanon, the head of Mossad, David Barnea, affirmed the agency’s commitment to “settling the score” with those responsible for the October 7 attack and targeting Hamas’s leadership.
