Situation in the Middle East (Timteng) is still heating up. The high geopolitical tension was triggered by the outbreak of Israel-Hamas in Gaza, Palestine.
Several parties say that the conflict in this region is likely to escalate because Tel Aviv’s attacks on several Arab parties who support Hamas. The parties attacking Israel are driven and supported by one regional power, Iran.
Here are some developments in the Middle East war as of Tuesday (10/9/2024) as quoted from various sources:
1. Israel Attacks a New Country
The war between Israel and several Arab militias has escalated again. After previously involving Lebanon and Yemen, this time the Jewish State attacked Syria on Sunday.
The Syrian government media SANA said the attack took place at a sensitive military location in the central province of Hama. In the official report, there were 14 people killed in the attack.
“The number of martyrs due to Israeli aggression in several locations around Masyaf has increased to 14 martyrs and 43 injured, including six critical people,” the media reported quoted by AFP.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israel’s ‘intense’ attack killed 18 people, including 8 who were members of the Syrian military. It is said that 32 others were injured.
“Israel launched an airstrike from the northwest of Lebanon targeting several military locations in the central region targeting scientific research areas in Masyaf,” SANA added.
Israel itself has often carried out attacks on Syria since 2011. Tel Aviv targets military positions and fighters supported by Iran, including from the Hezbollah Lebanon group.
The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, said that the Iranian experts are developing weapons, including precision missiles and drones, in the region. It is known that Tehran remains a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime until today.
“This is one of Israel’s most brutal attacks in Syria for years,” he said.
2. Turkish Maneuvers
Turkey will discuss the Gaza war and its relations with the Arab League. This happened when the foreign minister attended a meeting of the group’s ministers in Cairo on Tuesday, for the first time in 13 years.
Turkey, which has condemned Israel for its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, has joined steps toward demands for genocide charges against Israel at the International Court. Turkey’s relationship with the Arab League has been tense over the years.
Even though it has improved its long-strained relations with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, Ankara still has disputes with several other Arab League members, including Syria. After the Gaza war began, Turkey joined a joint contact group formed at the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Summit to find ways to end the conflict.
Turkish sources say the invitation to Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reflects the “growing interest” in Turkey’s regional role and improved relations with Arab League members. Ankara wants to strengthen institutional relations and cooperation with the group.
“Turkey’s relationship with Arab League members can drive solutions to current regional issues and concrete cooperation in the future,” the source said.
3. All Schools in Gaza Closed
The new school year in the Palestinian territories officially started on Monday, September 9. However, until now all schools in Gaza have been closed due to the endless war and no signs of a ceasefire.
The Palestinian UNRWA aid agency, which manages about half of Gaza’s schools, has converted as many education facilities as possible into emergency shelters that accommodate thousands of refugee families.
“The longer children are out of school, the harder it is for them to catch up on their missed learning and the more vulnerable they become to becoming a lost generation, falling victim to exploitation including child marriage, child labor, and recruitment into armed groups,” said UNRWA Communications Director Juliette Touma, as quoted by Reuters.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said all schools in Gaza are closed and 90% of them have been destroyed or damaged in Israeli attacks in the region. The Ministry also said, besides 625,000 Gaza residents already registered for schools who will miss classes, as many as 58,000 six-year-old children should have enrolled to start first grade this year.
Last month, UNRWA launched a back-to-learning program in 45 of its shelters. Teachers prepared games, drama, art, music, and sports activities to help children’s mental health.
It is worth noting that almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been forced to leave their homes at least once, and some have had to flee as many as 10 times. In the latest evacuation order, Israel told residents of an area in northern Gaza to leave their homes following a rocket strike on southern Israel the day before.
4. Houthi Shoots Down US Drone
The ruling Houthi militia in Yemen reported its downing of a US MQ-9 drone in Saada province. This was announced by the group’s spokesman, Yahya Saree, on Tuesday.
“This is one of several of these drones that have been shot down since the Gaza war began,” he said.
Since last November, the Houthis have been attacking ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians killed in Gaza. The Yemeni group also began attacking ships associated with the US and Britain after the two countries launched a military campaign in January to end Houthi attacks on shipping lanes in the region.
5. Israel Attacks “Safe Zone Gaza”
At least 40 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Al Mawasi Camp area, Gaza. This attack was carried out in an area that is known as a humanitarian zone for refugees.
Local rescue officials said at least 40 people were killed in the overnight airstrike. More than 60 people were also injured in the attack.
“Our rescue crews faced great difficulties in rescuing the victims, many of whom are believed to be asleep at the time of the attack because of a lack of resources,” said the rescue worker.
6. Death Toll
Quoting Al Jazeera which cited Gaza’s Ministry of Health data, at least 41,020 people were killed and 94,925 injured in Israel’s military attacks in Gaza since October 7. Of that number, 32 Palestinians were killed and 100 injured in the last 24-hour reporting period.
(sef/sef)
