Israeli Airstrike on Iran’s Consulate in Syria Marks Regional Turning Point
Plus: Israel kills seven foreign aid workers in Gaza, death toll surpasses 33,000, Netanyahu moves to shut Al Jazeera office, and local elections change Turkey’s political landscape.
Hello and welcome to Inshallah! I’m here to bring you the top stories from the Middle East. Come along on this journey with me to stay informed about the latest news and trends in the region.
Israeli Airstrike on Iran’s Consulate in Syria Marks Regional Turning Point
The Israeli airstrike that targeted Iran’s consulate in Syria this week, killing two Iranian generals, five officers, and a member of Lebanon’s Hezbollah this week, represents a turning point in the regional conflict triggered by the war in Gaza.
This is because Israel assassinated Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He is the highest-ranking Iranian military officer to be killed since Major General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force, who was assassinated by the United States in a drone strike in Iraq in January 2020.
Both Iran and Hezbollah vowed retaliation against Israel’s targeted killings. Israel has not publicly confirmed the attack as it typically does.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that “the Zionist regime will be punished by the hands of our brave men” and that Israel “will make it regret this crime and others it has committed.”
The Head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, said that the Lebanese group is “fully prepared” for a war with Israel and described the Israeli attack as a “turning point.”
The attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria certainly intensified the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah and Iran.
On the one side, Israel is facing international criticism for its military and political conduct in Gaza, and the major players in the West are trying to dissuade it from launching a military operation in the crowded city of Rafah in the South of the strip, in which Israel believes Hamas members are hiding.
On the other side, Iran may take action directly to retaliate against Israel, an event that would be considered a game changer in the region. Furthermore, Hezbollah may intensify its military conflict against Israel on Lebanon’s southern borders, but this may increase the chances for an all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, with unpredictable results. However, neither Iran nor Hezbollah has claimed how or when such retaliation will take place.
In any case, all the scenarios considered for retaliating against Israel have different levels of risk, and none of the players involved want to be embroiled in a conflict that would further spill over at the regional level.
Israel kills seven foreign aid workers in Gaza
Another major event in the region last Sunday was the killing of seven foreign aid workers in Gaza belonging to the NGO World Central Kitchen by an Israeli strike.
The killing of the aid workers, who included citizens of Britain, Australia, and Poland, a dual U.S.-Canadian national, and a Palestinian colleague, stirred global outrage.
Israel confirmed its involvement in the strike. While Prime Minister Benjamine Nethaniyauh apologized for the Israeli Defense Forces airstrike, claiming that it “was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip,” facts seem to tell another story.
In fact, reports indicate that some passengers exited their vehicle after it was struck by the initial missile and entered another car, which was subsequently hit by a second missile. A third missile targeted the third car in the convoy as it approached to pick up the occupants of the second vehicle, suggesting a deliberate attack.
Following an internal investigation into the deaths of the seven aid workers, the Israeli military dismissed two officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders. The military stated that Israeli forces mistakenly believed they were targeting Hamas gunmen when drones struck the three vehicles belonging to the World Central Kitchen aid group and acknowledged that standard procedures had not been followed.
As a result of the killing of the foreign aid workers, World Central Kitchen and other NGOs, as well as the United Arab Emirates, announced they would suspend their operations in Gaza.
The global outcry prompted U.S. President Joe Biden to indicate that support for Israel’s offensive in Gaza would be contingent upon concrete steps to protect aid workers and civilians. This marks the first attempt to use U.S. aid as leverage to influence Israeli military actions. Additionally, he reached out to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, urging them to pressure Hamas for a hostage negotiation with Israel.
Gaza war’s death toll surpasses 33,000
Despite the deaths of the seven aid workers and growing international pressure to cease military operations in Gaza, Israel persists in its military campaign.
This week, the Israeli military withdrew from al-Shifa Hospital, the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital, after a two-week raid, leaving behind scenes of devastation.
Israel’s military operations brought the death toll of Palestinians killed in Gaza to surpass 33,000 since the start of the war.
As a result, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution urging accountability for potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip by Israel and called for a cessation of all arms sales to the country.
A further step forward for the international pressure on Israel and the Palestinian cause has come with Spain’s government that has announced that it will recognize the State of Palestine before July.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians launched a fresh bid for U.N. membership, with supporters of the Palestinians’ request for full membership asking the U.N. Security Council to revive their application for admission submitted in 2011.
Riyad Mansour, the Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the U.N., said that the goal was for the Security Council to make a decision during the April 18 ministerial meeting on the Middle East.
However, a vote has yet to be scheduled. Mansour also mentioned that a Palestinian application for full membership since 2011 remains pending because the 15-member council has never formally decided on it. Nevertheless, reports indicate that the United States could veto this action.
Netanyahu moves to shut Al Jazeera office amid Gaza war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to shut down Al Jazeera’s local office amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, swiftly approved by the Knesset under a bill targeting foreign broadcasters deemed national security threats.
Denounced by Al Jazeera as part of a broader effort to silence the network, the law grants Netanyahu authority to close its offices for 45 days, extendable until the end of major Gaza military operations.
Al Jazeera rejected claims of compromising Israeli security and accused Israel of targeting its journalists.
The move raised concerns about press freedom, particularly from the United States.
Despite Qatar’s mediation in Gaza, tensions persist, with Netanyahu urging Qatar to pressure Hamas, fueling speculation about motives behind the Al Jazeera threat.
Previous actions against media supporting Hamas, like halting Al Mayadeen broadcasts, hint at potential legal battles ahead.
Read more on Reuters.
Local elections change Turkey’s political landscape
Taking a breath from the war in Gaza and its implication at the regional level, it’s worth mentioning the opposition mayors in Istanbul and Ankara claimed victory in Turkey’s local elections, marking a surprising setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Despite losses in key battlegrounds like Ankara and Istanbul, Erdogan acknowledged their gains, calling the vote a “turning point.”
With 96% of ballots counted, Istanbul’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor Ekrem Imamoglu secured victory by over one million votes.
The CHP also retained control of Ankara, with Mayor Mansur Yavas leading by 58.6%.
The CHP was also ahead in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city.
With 61 million eligible voters, the elections took place amid economic challenges, with Turkey experiencing high inflation and decreased industrial output. However, recent months have seen modest economic growth and a slight reduction in youth unemployment to nine percent.
Read more on The National.
That’s a wrap for this week! Thank you for joining Inshallah! Don’t forget to share and subscribe.
About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news with a focus on the MENA region.
Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.
You can follow me on Twitter: @DarioSabaghi
Errors and editing mistakes may occasionally occur. I appreciate your feedback and take all complaints seriously. Please get in touch with me on Twitter to report any issues, and I will do my best to rectify them promptly.
Cover photo | ARS NEWS/AFP - Al Jazeera