Israel under attack from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis on Oct. 7 anniversary
Israel has come under siege from several directions Monday, the one-year anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in its history.
Hamas fired projectiles from Gaza toward Israel as the country mourns the roughly 1,200 people who were killed and 250 others who were taken hostage a year ago by the U.S.-designated terrorist group, the Israel Defense Forces said. The Israeli Air Force also intercepted what it said was a surface-to-surface missile fired from Yemen, presumably by the Houthis, toward central Israel.
Hezbollah, which began attacking Israel’s north on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with Hamas, also launched 135 projectiles from Lebanon into Israel on Monday, the IDF said.
The rocket Hamas fired toward Israel on the anniversary emphasizes its ability to continue such attacks, even though the group has been decimated over the last year. The same goes for Hezbollah, which has had its senior leadership largely wiped out over the last month or so.
Israel’s military largely turned its attention away from Hamas in early September and began carrying out more extensive attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel’s military has begun limited ground operations in southern Lebanon while continuing airstrikes targeting Hezbollah leaders and its arsenal.
Ahead of the anniversary, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman, said at a televised briefing, “We are prepared with increased forces in anticipation for this day.”
There have also been concerns that the anniversary could spur attacks outside of Israel, including in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning that there could be threats to the U.S. in connection with the anniversary.
“The FBI and DHS assess the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that initiated the ongoing Israel-HAMAS conflict, as well as any further significant escalations in the conflict, may be a motivating factor for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators to engage in violence or threaten public safety,” the agencies said.
The agencies also warned that foreign terrorist organizations and extremists “likely will continue to exploit narratives related to the conflict” to persuade lone actors to carry out attacks.
“Jewish, Muslim, or Arab institutions — including synagogues, mosques/Islamic centers, and community centers — and large public gatherings, such as memorials, vigils, or other lawful demonstrations, present attractive targets for violent attacks or for hoax threats by a variety of threat actors, including violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators,” they added.
Both the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported a significant rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim complaints, respectively, since the war began.
Source » msn.com
