Tensions in the Middle East have surged since last weekend as the result of Israeli attacks on targets in four different countries, all of them allied with Iran. While the Israeli military recently claimed strikes on targets in Syria and the Palestinian-administered Gaza Strip, it is also thought to be behind attacks on Lebanon and Iraq. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his country will “deepen our roots and strike at our enemies.”
Analysts say the Israeli campaigns are part of a proxy war with Iran over influence in the region. They warn that the recent escalation increases the risks of an outright military conflict between the two countries.
Read more: Israel Appears to Attack Four Countries in Two Days, Bombing Iran’s Allies Across Middle East