US and Israel strike militias tied to Iran in reminder of risks in mideast

Over the weekend, the United States increased attacks on armed groups in Syria, while Israel continued to strike a militia in Lebanon. These actions serve as a reminder of the potential for a broader conflict as Israel intensifies its fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against facilities used by Iran and its proxies in eastern Syria on Sunday, potentially resulting in casualties among militia members. This is seen as an escalation by the Biden administration in response to near-daily attacks on U.S. soldiers in Syria and Iraq since October 17.

Israel, on the other hand, continued to respond to attacks from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia firing missiles and rockets into Israel from Lebanon. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, stated that the group intends to keep pressure on Israel, targeting sites further into the country. These recent U.S. and Israeli strikes coincide with Israel’s efforts to gain control over Gaza City, which it claims Hamas uses for storing weapons, planning attacks, and housing fighters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed the goal of destroying Hamas, which launched a surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of at least 1,200 people according to Israeli officials.

As Israel advances into Gaza, the United States has been deploying military assets to the Middle East, including fighter jets, missile defense systems, and an aircraft carrier. This is aimed at preventing a regional conflict that could involve U.S. forces clashing with Iranian proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has clarified that the United States does not seek a broader conflict with Iran but will respond to attacks on U.S. soldiers.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has caused nearly 1.5 million Gaza residents to flee their homes, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. Gaza’s hospitals are facing shortages of fuel, medical supplies, food, and water. Al Shifa, the main hospital, is in dire conditions as it is surrounded by Israeli tanks and troops, and close-quarters combat is taking place nearby. The United Nations, aid groups, and world leaders, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, have called for a cease-fire to allow more civilians to escape to safety. However, Israel has rejected these calls and only agreed to short pauses in fighting on a daily basis.

Last week, Secretary of State Blinken expressed concern over the high number of innocent Palestinian casualties and called for a sustained pause in fighting to allow aid into Gaza. While he did not criticize the Israeli government and reiterated Israel’s right to self-defense, his comments highlighted the growing frustration among Israel’s allies regarding the mounting death toll in Gaza. According to health authorities in Gaza, the death toll has surpassed 11,000.

This article was originally published in The New York Times.