Israeli Airstrike Kills 19 in Gaza Mosque as War Grows

At least 19 people were killed early Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a mosque in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said. The strike is part of Israel’s intensified military operations against Hamas in northern Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The conflict has expanded across the region, involving Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen who all launched attacks on Israel.

The situation worsened with Iran’s ballistic missile strike on Israel last week where Israel vowed retaliatory action on Iran. The war began nearly a year ago when Hamas launched an attack on the 7th day of October. It has also sparked clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border, further deepening it since Hezbollah, Iran’s primary ally in Lebanon, has exchanged fire with Israeli forces, which has led people to fear a greater regional war.

The U.S. remains committed to Israel via both military assistance and diplomatic support, but its role is becoming increasingly entrenched within the conflict. Its allies within the Arab world, who also host American military bases, are now under increased threat as the war spreads. There is increasing danger of direct U.S. involvement since the ongoing attacks by Iran-allied factions within neighboring countries have intensified.

And the conflict does not stop there; the role and position are now on fronts in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel is also preparing itself for future conflicts with Iran. The eruption of strikes by two sides heavily increases the chances of further escalation across the Middle East.