Weekly report -23/09

Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Throughout the week, Israel has launched devastating attacks on Lebanon, killing more than 700 people so far, with thousands injured or displaced. On Monday, 23rd of September, Israel launched more than 650 attacks mainly on southern Lebanon, killing 492 people, of which more than 90 were women and children. This was Lebanon’s deadliest day since 2006, and the country was left in shock with a large number of displaced people. Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the missions were targeted at missiles and rockets that could threaten Israeli cities. However, according to Lebanese health minister Firas Abiad the attacks also targeted “hospitals, medical centers and ambulances”. Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including Beirut, have continued since Monday, causing increasing plight of civilians. On Saturday, Hezbollah confirmed that its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by a large Israeli air attack on Beirut on Friday evening. This marks a significant escalation in the conflict with the potential threat of a regional war looming over. 

Sources: Al Jazeera, AP News, The Guardian

Middle East discussed in the UNGA

The high-level week of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly took place in New York between the 23rd and 27th of September. The Middle East, especially Israel, Lebanon and Palestine, drew much of the attention of the world leaders gathered. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the “killing and destruction” in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire. Others, for example French president Macron, Turkish president Erdogan, and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, also showed their support for a ceasefire. Macron and US president Biden claimed Israel’s right to self-defense. Other leaders addressed Israel more directly for the atrocities in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon, for example Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian and Erdogan: Pezeshkian associated the responsibility for the conflict in the region with Israel, while Erdogan stated that Israel “shredded the charter of the United Nations.” The Palestinian Authority participated for the first time after having their rights upgraded to the status of an Observer State this month, with PA president Mahmoud Abbas calling for an end to “the genocide”. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu raised serious concerns about further escalation as he stated that “the long arm of Israel” could reach anywhere in the Middle East. Many delegates walked out from the UNGA chamber as Netanyahu took the podium. 

Sources: Al Jazeera, UN Press, UN News, The Guardian, Middle East Eye, France 24

Houthi attacks on Israel 

On Friday, 27th of September, Yemen’s Iran-aligned group Houthis announced their missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities Tel Aviv and Ashkelon and US navy ships in the Red Sea that were headed to assist Israel. The attacks were done in support of Gaza and Lebanon, and the group stated that the operations on Israel will continue until Israel stops its offensives. The Israeli military stated that they intercepted a missile fired from Yemen after sirens sounded in central Israel. US navy ships also intercepted projectiles and did not suffer damages. On Saturday, the Houthis announced having fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion airport in Israel. In July, the group had launched a drone attack for the first time on Tel Aviv, leading to a response by the Israeli Air Force on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. The UN has had an arms embargo on the Houthis since 2015. The group is supported by Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi groups.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera