The United States announced that it would be sending more advanced weapons systems to the Middle East, while Israel issued a warning to Lebanon regarding the militant group Hizbollah. This reflects a growing concern that Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza could escalate into a larger regional war.
On Saturday evening, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that he was deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot air defense systems to various locations in the Middle East. This decision came after discussions with President Joe Biden regarding recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces in the region. Austin also revealed that he had ordered an undisclosed number of troops to prepare for deployment in order to strengthen deterrence efforts in the region. This decision was made in response to recent attacks on two military bases housing American troops in Iraq.
The US has already deployed two aircraft carrier groups and put 2,000 marines on standby for deployment in the region. Last Thursday, the US military intercepted three missiles and several drones fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen, which were likely headed towards Israel. This additional deployment comes amidst concerns of a potential regional escalation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that if Hizbollah were to enter the conflict, it would be making a grave mistake. He warned that Israel would strike with a force that Hizbollah couldn’t even imagine, resulting in devastating consequences for both the group and the Lebanese state.
Israel continues its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, striking targets in the south and increasing attacks around Gaza City in preparation for a possible ground offensive. The country has imposed a blockade on Gaza, cutting off power, water, and fuel supplies following cross-border attacks by Hamas. Israeli officials claim that over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in these attacks, while Palestinian health officials report that more than 4,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since the start of the war.
The recent attacks by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have sparked a significant conflict, bringing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back into the global spotlight. There is uncertainty surrounding the governance of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people if Israel were to remove Hamas from power.
A small convoy of aid was allowed into Gaza on Saturday for the first time since the conflict began. However, the UN’s humanitarian arm warned that this amount of aid was only 4% of what was imported each day prior to the war, and much more aid is needed. Aid workers are concerned about the spread of diseases due to unsanitary conditions and a lack of water and sanitation facilities.
Israel has indicated that a ground offensive into Gaza is imminent, and they have advised people in Gaza to move to the south. The Israeli military estimates that approximately 700,000 Gazans have already relocated to the south, while the UN reports that nearly 1 million people have been uprooted across Gaza since October 7.
In addition to the conflict with Hamas, Palestinian gunmen have taken 212 hostages into Gaza. Two were released after mediation by Qatar. Israel’s military chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, stated that they are preparing for the enemy’s actions in Gaza.
The war has heightened tensions in the region, particularly with Hizbollah. Naim Qassem, Hizbollah’s second-in-command, stated that the group is fully engaged in the conflict and warned that Israel would face consequences for a ground offensive in Gaza. Artillery exchanges have escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel, resulting in the death of six Hizbollah fighters on Saturday. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that he would make every effort to protect Lebanon.
Israel has increased its troop presence along its northern border and is prepared to fight a war on two fronts if necessary. The country has called on residents of 14 additional communities in the north to evacuate.
Finally, Israel carried out an aerial strike on a mosque in the occupied West Bank, which it claimed was a “terror compound” belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. This strike resulted in the death of two individuals according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
