Region
Israel fighting with Gaza, Lebanon intensifies
Palestinian death toll mounts to 4,741; 1,903 of them children, 1,024 women
October 22, 2023 | 10:36 PM
Fears that the Israel-Hamas war could mushroom into a wider Middle East conflict rose Sunday with Washington warning of a significant risk to US interests in the region as ally Israel pounded Gaza and clashes on its border with Lebanon intensified.Gaza's Health Ministry said 266 Palestinians, including 117 children, had been killed by Israeli air strikes in the past 24 hours in the enclave, to which Israel laid "total siege" after a deadly infiltration into Israel by Hamas resistance fighters on Oct. 7.In neighbouring Syria, Israeli missiles hit Damascus and Aleppo international airports, putting both out of service, Syrian state media said.Along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group has clashed with Israeli forces in support of Hamas.With violence around its heavily guarded borders increasing, Israel on Sunday added 14 communities close to Lebanon and Syria to its evacuation contingency plan in the north of the country.Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on the international community to create "a united front" to stop Israel's attacks against Gaza and allow in desperately needed aid which has only begun to trickle in.US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that Washington would send more military assets to the Middle East in support of Israel and strengthen the US defence posture in the region after "recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces" - a reference to Hezbollah and other militants.Austin said a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and extra Patriot air defence missile system battalions will be sent to the region and more troops put on standby.Iranian security officials told Reuters Iran's strategy was for Middle East proxies like Hezbollah to pursue limited strikes on Israeli and US targets but to avoid a major escalation that would draw in Tehran.Gaza's Health Ministry said Israel's air and missile strikes had killed at least 4,741 and wounded 15,898, with over a million of the densely populated enclave's 2.3mn people displaced.Among the martyrs in Gaza and West Bank were 1,903 children, 1,024 women as well as 187 elders, the statement stated.Israel has amassed tanks and troops near the fenced border around Gaza for a planned ground invasion aiming to annihilate Hamas.With Israel keeping up daily bombings, Palestinians said they received renewed Israeli military warnings to move from Gaza's north to the south to avoid the deadliest theatre of the war.They said military leaflets dropped on the territory, just 45 km (28 miles) long, contained the added warning that they could be identified as sympathisers with a "terrorist organisation" if they stayed put.
October 22, 2023 | 10:36 PM