‘Clear Signal’ Sent That Israel-Hamas War Could Escalate Regionally

QIRYAT SHEMONA, Israel – Iranian proxies throughout the Middle East conducted a series of attacks on US forces and Israel Thursday night in what regional and western intelligence officials fear is a broad escalation of the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that has killed thousands.

Iran’s Lebanese proxy, and close Hamas ally, Hezbollah has conducted near daily small scale attacks on Israel’s northern border that have been seen by Israeli officials as an attempt to pressure and stress test Israeli reactions along the heavily militarised northern border. Hezbollah’s huge arsenal of missiles and rockets dwarfs Hamas capabilities and its battle-hardened fighters have deep experience fighting both Israel and Syrian rebels over decades, making it by far the most feared non-state actor in the region.

On Thursday, the conflict appeared to expand beyond Israel’s adjacent borders, as fighters from Yemen’s Houthi movement and Iraqi militias – both loyal to Iran – conducted a series of attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria and might have even tried to attack Israel, according to US and regional intelligence officials.

A US warship in the northern Red Sea shot down several missiles and drones fired from Yemen Thursday night that US and European officials suspect were directed at Israel, which if true would represent the broadest expansion yet of the conflict.

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