The rocket attacks in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen on Saturday highlighted the increasing danger of war in Gaza, which could lead to a broader conflict in the region between Iran and its allies on one side, and Israel and the United States on the other. Iran reported that five members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were killed in a missile strike on a house in Damascus, accusing Israel of being behind the attack.
The United States announced it targeted a missile prepared by the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen to strike shipping targets in the Red Sea, describing it as a threat to maritime shipping. Over the past three months, Israel has repeatedly targeted Iranian sites in Syria, while Iran-aligned groups in Syria and Iraq have fired at American targets in those countries.
The conflict in Gaza has broader international implications as the Houthis have begun targeting ships crossing the Red Sea, claiming they are headed to Israel or linked to it. Some major shipping companies are now avoiding transit through this waterway, impacting global trade.
U.S. and British strikes have targeted Houthi forces in Yemen for the past week. Iranian sources and others in the region say that Iran and Hezbollah have personnel in Yemen assisting in direct attacks on shipping vessels; however, the Houthis deny this.
