Current Events in The Middle East After Hours

[Bob the Ninja]

Been an escalation lately as Israel targets Hezbollah in Lebanon. I think there is a real danger of all out war in the Middle East.



I don't see what Hezbollah are gaining from this conflict right now. A deal for peace with Israel would maybe be the rational decision at this point, for their own and the Lebanese people sake.

Hezbollah couldn't care less about Lebanese people sake.

 

[David76]

Well, this has escalated in recent weeks!

• The Israeli military and Hezbollah report ground fighting inside southern Lebanon, a day after Israel announced it was invading
• The IDF says it's using "precision-guided munitions and close-range engagements" inside Lebanon
• It later reports the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers in combat - the first inside Lebanon since the invasion began
• Earlier, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would "pay", after Iran fired around 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday
• Lebanese officials say more than 1,000 people have been killed in the past two weeks, while around a million may now be displaced
• In Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says Israeli strikes in Khan Younis killed at least 51 people

I wonder what happens next, will other countries become involved?

 

[Legion]

Not content with committing genocide in Gaza, the Israelis are now taking the fight to Iran.

It has been six days since Israel began its offensive on Iran. Tehran has returned fire, sending waves of missiles towards Israel.

Here's what's happened since the conflict started:

On Friday, Israel hit multiple sites including a nuclear facility and residential areas in Tehran, which killed a number of senior commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), nuclear scientists, and civilians. Iran then retaliated by launching drones and a ballistic missile at military centres and airbases in Israel.

Over the weekend, strikes from both sides continued and oil infrastructure was hit. Israel said at least 20 people were killed in multiple different strikes, leading into Monday. Meanwhile, Iran's health ministry said 224 people had been killed and 1,277 injured as of Sunday evening.

On Monday Israel issued an evacuation order for northern parts of Tehran. Later that day, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that "everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran".

On Tuesday, people tried to flee Tehran - which has a population of 10 million people - and traffic jams were reported around the city. Separately in a social media post, Trump wrote that Khamenei is "an easy target", but that they are not going to "take him out" for now.

Dangerous times ahead, not only for the Middle East but for the world. If America gets involved, who knows what will happen?

 

[David76]

The speed at which this escalated is unbelievable. Before the war in Iraq, there was a lot of debate, a vote in Congress, a buildup, Powell at the UN, etc. You knew that it was coming. This time: all changed in the space of a few days.

 

[Abomb]

Apparently, US F16s, F35s AND F22s are on their way to the Middle East. What a shit show this is looking to turn into.

And Donald Trump doesn't help matters with stupid social media posts

In March, Trump's handpicked Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress that the intelligence community "continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon", and that Iran's supreme leader "has not authorised the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003".

"I don't care what she said," Trump told reporters on Tuesday when asked about Gabbard's assessment.

He maintained his view that Iran was "very close" to developing its own nuclear weapon.

 

[Franco Pinion]

Yes, the Iranian government and Ayatollah Ali Khameini are nasty, and the world would be a far better place if they were not in power, even better if they were held accountable (next to Netanyahu and his government) in the international court.

But by starting/restarting a war against Iran, Netanyahu is most definitely not doing everyone a favour. Trump has not helped either. In his first term, it looked like it was possible to use negotiation with Iran to keep their nuclear ambitions under control. But trying that again does not suit Netanyahu's agenda. And Trump is a fool.

Israel has been telling everyone that Iran will have nuclear weapons soon for how many years? Having listened to some Israeli government officials, all I got from them was that if you could see their lips moving, they were lying. Just as bad if not worse than the Russians...and we could well have another Gulf War (WMD claims) scenario on our hands if we don't watch out.

 

[Tom]

Yes, the Iranian government and Ayatollah Ali Khameini are nasty, and the world would be a far better place if they were not in power, even better if they were held accountable (next to Netanyahu and his government) in the international court.

But by starting/restarting a war against Iran, Netanyahu is most definitely not doing everyone a favour. Trump has not helped either. In his first term, it looked like it was possible to use negotiation with Iran to keep their nuclear ambitions under control. But trying that again does not suit Netanyahu's agenda. And Trump is a fool.

Israel has been telling everyone that Iran will have nuclear weapons soon for how many years? Having listened to some Israeli government officials, all I got from them was that if you could see their lips moving, they were lying. Just as bad if not worse than the Russians...and we could well have another Gulf War (WMD claims) scenario on our hands if we don't watch out.

You're right, the Israelis have been accusing Iran of trying to produce a nuclear weapon for years, and of course, we should be mindful of the lies Tony Blair fed us regarding Iraq. However, when Iran refuses to allow inspectors into its sites and the likes of Russia and China express concern, one could be forgiven for suspecting they're up to no good.

 

[Gemma]

Wow, this could kick off big time now.

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1936573183634645387

Deja vu of Iraq, 2003.

 

[Bad Gizmo]

What is the end game here now?

Constant spiral of escalation now the US are involved as Iran will feel compelled to respond, resulting in the US striking back, rinse and repeat?

 

[Strawberry Man]

What is the end game here now?

Constant spiral of escalation now the US are involved as Iran will feel compelled to respond, resulting in the US striking back, rinse and repeat?

I guess we might find out soon. Iran has fired missiles at a US base in Qatar, near Doha.

Iran launches missiles at US base in Qatar in response to strikes - live updates

No casualties are reported after Qatar "thwarted" the attack on the US-run Al Udeid base, two days after US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reports of explosions over Doha​

There are reports from Reuters and AFP news agencies of explosions being heard over Doha.

It follows earlier reports from US media saying that Iran was imminently preparing to fire missiles at a US base in Qatar.