weekly report -30/09
Iran Launches Missiles Targeting Israel Amid Rising Regional Tensions
On Tuesday, October 1st, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated that the attack was done in response to the recent killings of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. The Times of Israel wrote that Iran’s attack caused Israeli residents to evacuate into bomb shelters but “was largely unsuccessful”, as the Israeli military stated that most projectiles were intercepted. The US and UK participated in repelling the attack. According to Reuters, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that 90% of the missiles fired hit their targets. The damages of the strikes are being assessed, but Israel has reported some damages in some of its air bases, and one person killed in the West Bank, according to The Guardian. Le Monde called the operation “a show of force” by Iran. Leaders of both states issued statements reflecting the risk of further escalation: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a "big mistake" and stated that Iran "will pay for it", while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran and its allies “will not back down” from conflict with Israel. The attack sparked reactions from other actors, for example US President Joe Biden expressed his support for Israel’s “right to respond” to the attack, but “in proportion”. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned “the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation”, and called for a ceasefire. The Israeli Defence Force has indicated it is preparing a “significant and serious” retaliation against Iran as the anniversary of the attacks of October 7th approaches.
Sources: BBC, Le Monde, The Times of Israel, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Guardian
Israeli Bombing of Lebanon Continues into Another Week of Conflict
The current week has been marked by Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including heavy air strikes and a ground offensive. Early on Tuesday, October 1st, Israel began a widely expected ground operation into Lebanon after "intensity and ambition" had increased in the past days, as cited by the New York Times. On Monday, prior to the beginning of the invasion, France's foreign affairs minister Jean-Noel Barrot had urged Israel “to refrain from any ground incursion and to cease fire”, while US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin showed Washington’s support for a ground offensive to remove certain Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. According to Le Figaro, the Israeli military announced the launch of the attack describing it as “limited, localized and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence”. Throughout the week, Israeli air strikes hit different parts of Lebanon, including Beirut. More than 2,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the attacks on Lebanon, and nearly 1.2 million have been displaced from their homes. The conflict has sparked international reactions, for example the UN has expressed their fears of “greater suffering” and “violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity”, China showed concern about escalation, Russia called for immediate Israeli withdrawal, and the US expressed intentions for “limited backing”.
Sources: New York Times, Middle East Eye, Le Figaro, Al Jazeera, BBC, Le Monde
Tunisia holds presidential elections
On Sunday, October 6, Tunisians are heading to the polls as the country holds presidential elections, which a source cited by the BBC characterized as “a referendum on Kais Saied”, the incumbent president, as his re-election looks inevitable. Many of Saied’s prominent critics and key rival, Ayachi Zammel, are imprisoned, and campaign rallies or public debates have been scarce. The elections are taking place “against a backdrop of increased repression of dissent, muzzling of the media, and continued attacks on judicial independence”, as per Human Rights Watch. Earlier this year, the electoral commission approved only three candidates to run in the presidential race, ignoring a ruling by one of the country’s highest judicial bodies. According to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Saied’s presidency has been marked by his suspension of the parliament and a constitutional referendum which concentrated power in his hands. Last year, Saied also attracted international attention and concern with his statements that triggered widespread violence against sub-Saharan African migrants in the country. The run-up to the election has prompted protests in the capital, Tunis, opposing the incumbent. According to ISIE, the electoral board cited by Le Monde, preliminary results of the election should be published by Wednesday.
Sources: The Guardian, Human Rights Watch, Le Monde, Al Jazeera, IFES, BBC
