6 drone attacks on Israeli targets, Iraqi militia claims

Baghdad| Islamic Resistance, a Shia militia group in Iraq, claimed responsibility for six drone attacks on Israeli targets. According to the statements, the group’s fighters carried out three drone attacks on ‘important sites’ in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, in addition to three other locations. The statements did not provide further details about the targeted sites nor report any casualties, Xinhua news agency reported.

The group said the attacks were carried out ‘in solidarity with our people in Palestine and Lebanon’. It pledged to continue ‘targeting enemy strongholds at increasing speed’.

Since the start of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, Islamic Resistance in Iraq has repeatedly attacked Israeli and American targets in the region to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. The militias intensified their attacks on Israel after Israel stepped up attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon on 23 September.

In response to the major attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, the Jewish nation started a military operation in the Gaza Strip occupied by the Palestinian Group. About 1200 people were killed in the Hamas attack while more than 250 people were taken hostage. Israeli attacks have caused widespread devastation in Gaza and have killed thousands of Palestinians.

Along with this, the Israeli army has been carrying out air strikes on Lebanon since 23 September. It has also launched a ‘limited’ ground operation across the border, allegedly aimed at weakening Hezbollah. Israeli attacks have killed several commanders, including Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah, and caused heavy damage to many of its targets. However, the Lebanese group is also retaliating by firing missiles at Israel. On October 8, 2023, Hezbollah started firing rockets at Israel in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Hamas. The latest developments are an extension of this conflict.