Tensions in the Middle East have intensified following the recent assassinations of prominent figures and ongoing conflicts. On July 31, Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, was killed in Tehran while attending the swearing-in of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Haniyeh, who resided in Qatar, was a leading figure in Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The day before, on July 30, Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. The strike also resulted in the deaths of three women and two young siblings. Israel stated that Shukr was responsible for rocket fire that killed 12 youths in the Golan Heights on July 27.
Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating Haniyeh’s assassination and has warned of severe retaliation. The Revolutionary Guards also accused the U.S. of supporting Israel and suggested that Israel would face severe punishment. Iran’s mission to the United Nations expects Hezbollah to expand its targets beyond military sites within Israel.
In response, the U.S. plans to deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East. The U.S. has also advised its citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately and has temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv. President Joe Biden has expressed concern that the violence could escalate, complicating cease-fire negotiations.
In Gaza, the death toll has exceeded 39,550 Palestinians since the escalation of the conflict on October 7, following a brutal Hamas attack on Israel. Israel has reported killing nine Palestinian militants in Tulkarem in the northern West Bank.
India has issued advisories for its nationals in Israel to remain vigilant and stay near safety shelters. The Indian embassy in Lebanon has urged its citizens to leave the country, and Air India has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until August 8.
