This X Post By Journalist Concludes Conflicts In West Asia In 50 Words
Journalist and The Hindu Foreign Editor Stanly Johny succinctly summed up what is happening in West Asia in 50 words in a tweet he shared today, making close attention to the scenario.
“Israel is invading Gaza & bombing Syria & Lebanon ; Hezbollah is hitting Israel; Houthis are raiding ships in the Red Sea; the US & UK are striking Houthis in Yemen; Turkey is attacking Kurds in Syria, and Iraq; IS is attacking Iran & Iran is bombing Mossad in Iraq & IS in Syria,” the post reads.
#WestAsia now: Israel is invading Gaza & bombing Syria &Lebanon; Hezbollah is hitting Israel; Houthis are raiding ships in RedSea; US & UK are striking Houthis in Yemen; Turkey is attacking Kurds in Syria, Iraq; IS is attacking Iran & Iran is bombing Mossad in Iraq & IS in Syria.
— Stanly Johny (@johnstanly) January 16, 2024
The first point, Stanly talk about is the ongoing Israel’s offensive in Gaza, noting the invasion and indiscriminate killing and huge displacement of the innocent people in the strip. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 24,000, with the potential famine gripping the area due to the prolonged attack through air, sea and land. Israel, in addition to their attack in Gaza, is attacking Syria and Lebanon, in what Israel says is its response to the missile attacks from the two countries.
In response to the Israeli atrocities in Gaza, the militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon has been attacking Israel. There have been strikes and counterstrikes, killing people on both sides, including the lives of innocent civilians. Yemen’s Houthis on the other hand has been engaged in attacking the Israel- ships in the Red Sea, in its expression of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza who are reeling under persisting war since the war broke out last October 7th.
Alleging the Houthis vessel attacks in the Red Sea disrupting the international maritime traffic, the US and UK added fuel to the fire by unleashing combined strikes in several Houthi sites in Yemen, causing death and destruction. However, undeterred by the US-led attack, Houthis continued to target ships in the Red Sea as they vowed to include American and British ships as their new “legitimate targets.” The group attacked a US-owned commercial ship Yesterday.
Meanwhile, Turkey is stepping up its attack on Kurds in response to the killing of soldiers in Iraq. According to a report, Turkey conducted 128 strikes in Syria in 2023, leading to the death and injuries of many. The multiple bombing by Turkey came after Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) attacked Turkish army, leading to the death of nine soldiers. Turkey has now continuing its attack against the Kurdistan militants.
Taking advantage of the regional tension, the debilitated Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria (ISIS) is resuming attacks towards Iran, which had played a crucial role in defeating ISIS in the region. The recent deadly attack on a mass gathering commemorating the death anniversary of the former Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani killed more than hundreds. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the detonation of explosives while Tehran vowed revenge for its bloodiest attack in decades.
Iran, provoked by the ISIS-claimed terrorist attack, launched missile strikes in Iraq and Syria, citing security threats. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) today launched ballistic missiles at an Israeli “espionage headquarters” in Iraq’s Kurdish region. It also hits the targets linked to ISIS in northern Syria, killing four and wounding six.
As the tension in the region escalates, the US is bracing for further attacks in Yemen, in addition to supplying arms to Israel and carrying out strikes across the West Asia
