- Iran’s missile attack on Israel, Hezbollah base in Beirut destroyed
- Four injured including an Indian
Tehran/Washington/Tel Aviv. The ongoing military conflict between America, Israel and Iran in West Asia is becoming increasingly widespread. In this conflict that has been going on for the last twelve days, while on one hand America and Israel are targeting Iran’s military and energy infrastructure, on the other hand Iran is also retaliating through missile and drone attacks in the entire region. The increasing attacks have raised serious concerns over security, energy supply and environment in the Gulf region.
America has claimed that as part of its military campaign, action is being taken to weaken Iran’s missile production infrastructure and naval capabilities. According to White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt, the US military has destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels in the past ten days, including a large drone carrier. This action is being taken under ‘Operation Epic Fury’, the objective of which is said to be to decisively weaken Iran’s military capability.
The conflict has also intensified on the maritime front.
The US has said that its Navy destroyed at least 16 Iranian military vessels that were preparing to lay mines near the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is considered one of the most important oil transportation routes in the world and any kind of military activity here could affect the global energy market. US officials say Iran was trying to disrupt oil supplies and international trade by laying sea mines in the area.
On the other hand, Iran has also intensified attacks against Israel and its allies. According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), it launched several rounds of missile attacks on Israel overnight, including long-range ‘Khoramshahr’ ballistic missiles. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that there were three missile attacks overnight, although most of the missiles were destroyed in the air by air defense systems. In retaliation, Israel attacked major positions of Hezbollah in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.
The impact of the conflict appears to be reaching other countries in the Gulf region as well. Four people, including an Indian, were injured in an Iranian drone attack near Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. However, officials said that despite this incident, airport operations are continuing normally. The UAE Defense Ministry said that its air defense system is constantly alert and so far a large number of drone and missile attacks have been neutralized in the air.
Meanwhile, concerns related to environment and health have also increased. After the attacks on oil depots and energy facilities in Iran, dense clouds of poisonous smoke have spread in the atmosphere. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that due to these attacks there may be a danger of ‘black rain’ i.e. poisonous rain. According to experts, toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides and nitrogen compounds spread in the air can be extremely dangerous for human health. WHO has advised people to stay indoors and avoid polluted rains.
According to the Pentagon, about 140 US soldiers have been injured in the first ten days of the war, out of which the condition of eight is said to be critical. Also, in the first two days itself, America had to spend 5.6 billion dollars on military action.
Meanwhile, a major change has also taken place in the power of Iran. Following the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the initial day of the attack, his son Mojtaba Khamenei has been elected as the new supreme leader. It is being told that he was injured in the attack, but is currently safe. The ever-increasing attacks and retaliatory actions have escalated tensions across West Asia and experts fear the conflict could escalate into a wider regional war if a diplomatic solution is not found soon.
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