Like an oil slick, the conflict in Gaza escalates dangerously in the region with new Israeli bombardments in southern Lebanon on Tuesday and Iran's firing of missiles on Monday night against what it claimed were Israeli "spy headquarters" in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. and against ISIS-linked targets in northern Syria.
Four civilians were killed and six wounded after Iranian missiles hit an exclusive zone near the consulate in Irbil, home to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, according to the Kurdish regional government's security council.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement that it had attacked a headquarters of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, in Iraq's Kurdish region. Another statement said it had fired several ballistic missiles at "terrorist operations," including ISIS targets, in Syria and destroyed them.
A missile hit an ISIS prison in northeastern Syria, triggering an escape attempt by "dozens" of inmates, which was thwarted by Syrian Kurdish forces in charge of security in the area. According to a statement from the Kurdish-led armed alliance Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the action took place at around 07:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. in Argentina) against Al Sina prison, in Al Hasakah province, and caused minor injuries to some of the prisoners of the terrorist formation.
Emergency services remove debris from a house hit by Iranian missiles in Irbil, Iraq. Photo: AP
Israel did not immediately acknowledge the attack in Irbil and its embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment on Iran's accusation of Mossad.
Iran's attacks come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and fears of awider extension of the ongoing war in Gaza.
Israeli bombings in Lebanon
Israel struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in Wadi Saluki in southern Lebanon on Tuesday with warplanes and artillery, military radio and Kan public radio reported, calling it a particularly significant attack.
On Monday, the commander of the northern military region, Gen. Ori Gordin, visited troops stationed on the border with Lebanon and said, "We are continuously committed to eliminating and reducing Hezbollah's offensive capabilities and pushing them further north."
Israel fires artillery at Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Photo: Reuters
According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, the visit of US President Joe Biden's special envoy, Amos Hochstein, brought only one message: "restore security in Israel and return residents to their homes," which "looks like a warning before a serious escalation."
The newspaper also reports that Hochstein called on Lebanese authorities to move Hezbollah fighters seven kilometers beyond the Blue Line and for the Lebanese army to replace them. "Otherwise, Israel will launch a war against Hezbollah," Hochstein said, according to the newspaper.
On the other hand, the Israeli army continues operations to "cleanse" the northern part of the Gaza Strip while continuing to attack the southern part, especially in Khan Yunis, the military spokesman said.
According to the spokesman, in Beit Lahiya, in the north, "100 rocket launch stations have been located" with at least "60 rockets ready to be fired." that were destroyed.
In the on-site combat - according to the same source - the troops "killed dozens of Hamas militants in the area". Nine other operatives of the Islamic faction were "killed in Shati," on the outskirts of Gaza City. In the south of the Palestinian enclave, Hamas observation posts were also attacked with a helicopter gunship in Khan Yunis.
With information from agencies