Iraqi militias carry out six new attacks on Israel as the Gaza war intensifies

As the war in Gaza entered a new phase after Israeli forces entered the southern city of Rafah, a coalition of Iraqi militias claimed six rocket and drone strikes in a day against Israel and threatened to further escalate their offensive.

The attacks on Thursday were claimed by a militia coalition known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and included suspected attacks on Israel’s Nevatim air base in Beersheba, the southern port city of Eilat, the Ashkelon oil terminal and a base in the northern border town of Elifelet, a platform in the offshore Leviathan gas field and the Ovda air base. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not immediately report the alleged attacks.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said the attacks were carried out “in continuation of our resistance to the occupation, in support of our people in Gaza and in response to the massacres committed by the usurping entity against Palestinian civilians, including children.” , women and the elderly.” The coalition also claimed that “the Islamic Resistance confirms its continued destruction of enemy strongholds.”

The attacks came as part of an ongoing campaign by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq and other factions of the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance” against Israel since the war broke out in Gaza on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led an unprecedented surprise attack.

As Israeli troops continue to battle the group seven months later, the IDF announced on Monday the start of joint air and ground operations against the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah to eliminate Hamas’ presence and disrupt suspected cross-border arms smuggling operations.

The Israeli operations began despite protests from U.S. officials who cited humanitarian concerns about the estimated 1.5 million Palestinians believed to be seeking refuge in Rafah. While IDF activities are underway, US President Joe Biden has suspended a shipment of offensive weapons and threatened to cut off further military aid if a full-scale offensive begins.

As Israel continues to face enemy fire from multiple fronts, Iraqi militias accused the country of carrying out an air strike on a media and cultural center on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday. The IDF has neither confirmed nor denied its role in the attack, but reports of Israeli involvement, which would mark the latest episode in a years-long campaign by Israel against Iran-linked targets in Syria, sparked strong reactions locally.

One of Iraq’s most prolific Islamic resistance groups, known as the Nujaba movement or Hezbollah al-Nujaba, claimed in a statement on Thursday that Israel “continues its tyranny, brutality and arrogance, targeting the media and cultural center that their Spreading violence.” Scandals and brutal crimes against humanity, and in the process the lie of culture and peace propagated by the West was exposed to the public as an unmasked lie.

The Nujaba Movement stated that “our response will be sudden, strong and effective” and emphasized the ability of its drones and missiles to reach Israel. Echoing the Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s statement, the group said that “the Islamic Resistance confirms its continued destruction of enemy strongholds.”

Meanwhile, another faction linked to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, Ashab al-Kahf, also issued a statement on the alleged Israeli attack in Syria, condemning what spokesman Abu Murtaja al-Husseini called a “vile” attack on the alleged media – and cultural center.

“At a time when the world is witnessing the brutal oppression that daily affects students and university professors at the hands of the governments and authorities of Western countries who believe in protecting science and development,” Husseini said, “the Zionist enemy has come and “This aggression has proven that its foundations and those of its supporters come from a single swamp of ignorance that combats consciousness and science alongside their terrorism and arrogance.”

Husseini also assured that the group would continue its campaign of attacks against Israel in support of Palestinians and residents of the Damascus neighborhood where the Israeli attack allegedly took place.

“We reiterate that the resistance drones will not stop until the Zionist crime stops and that we remain committed to our brothers in the Palestinian resistance,” he added. “We will continue to destroy the strongholds of the Zionist enemy to avenge the blood of the free people of Zakia.”

Newsweek has contacted the IDF, the Nujaba Movement and Ashab al-Kahf for comment.

Israeli officials have repeatedly denied allegations of violating international law during the conflict in Gaza and have accused Iran of attacking the broader “Axis of Resistance” coalition, which includes militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. to support directly. Iran has denied exercising command and control over such groups but openly supports their actions.

Syria has proven to be a particularly explosive front line in the long-standing feud between Iran and Israel. An Israeli airstrike on a building next to the Iranian embassy in Damascus last month sparked the first direct exchange of blows between the longtime rivals.

In addition to the Islamic Resistance’s campaign in Iraq, Yemen’s Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement, claimed on Thursday to have targeted two “Israeli” ships MSC Diego And MSC Ginain the Gulf of Aden as well as two further attacks against the MSC Victoria in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.

Hezbollah reported at least seven new attacks against northern locations in northern Israel on Thursday. The IDF announced several new attacks by the group, saying Israeli forces had intercepted two drones coming from Lebanon and launched several airstrikes in the south of the neighboring country.

In a video address on Thursday, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said about 115 targets had been attacked in southern Lebanon over the past week, including 20 attacks near Ramyeh on Wednesday alone.

“These attacks are part of an effort to harm the terrorist organization Hezbollah and drive it from the line of contact. Hezbollah responds with fire, and unfortunately there are also casualties and injuries,” Hagari said, referring to the deaths of three soldiers from the 551st Brigade last week.

Hagari reported on new operations by the IDF’s 162nd Division in eastern Rafah, where he said evidence had emerged that “corroborated the information we had: Hamas was using the Rafah crossing area for terrorist attacks.”

“We have found several terrorist tunnel shafts in the area, which we are currently investigating and scanning, and so far our forces have eliminated about 50 terrorists in this area through encounters and airstrikes as well as scans in the area,” Hagari said. “Currently, division forces continue to operate against terrorist targets in the region.”

At the same time, US-backed talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt continue in search of a possible ceasefire agreement that would also pave the way for the release of up to 130 hostages still held by Hamas.

“Tonight we also remember our highest mission and our commitment to the hostages still held in Gaza,” Hagari said. “We will continue to do everything we can to create the conditions for the hostages and our loved ones to return home as quickly as possible.”