There's a lot of coverage on how #Israel has expanded the war in the #MiddleEast.
On the 1 yr anniversary of #Oct7, let's not forget WHAT started it — It was a surprise rocket attack on Israel by #Hamas from #Gaza, followed by repeated cross-border attacks by #Hezbollah from #Lebanon.
BOTH Hamas and Hezbollah have agency and are responsible for triggering and escalating this war, as is their benefactor #Iran and its #AxisOfAlliance.
Let's not forget WHO started it.
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-one-year-anniversary-cf123f95609051e8e8eaf6aebe661b6a
Israel marks one year since Oct. 7 Hamas attack
Israelis are holding somber ceremonies to mark a year since the deadliest attack in the country’s history. The Hamas-led raid shattered Israelis' sense of security and ignited wars on two fronts with no end in sight. Hamas marked the anniversary of its Oct. 7, 2023, attack by firing a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv, underscoring its resilience after a year of war and devastation in Gaza. Lebanon’s Hezbollah vowed to continue firing rockets at northern Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians despite its recent losses. The Israeli military says it will soon launch operations on Lebanon’s southern coast, telling residents to stay off the beaches and fishermen off the sea for a 60-kilometer stretch along the Mediterranean.
When proxies are not enough, when proxy leaders are falling dead, what is a hostile adversary to do?
Take matters into its own hands, of course.
And so, after waiting nearly a year since #Hamas, a member of #Iran's #AxisOfAlliance, launched a surprise attack on #Israel on #Oct7 2023, Iran delivers an #OctoberSurprise of its own to the #US by launching missiles directly at US-ally, Israel.
But it is not really a surprise ➡️ https://mastodon.social/@rameshgupta/111885708359978243 #TimingIsNoCoincidence
https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da
Israel says Iran has fired missiles at Israel, warned residents to shelter
Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies. The missile attack — and a retaliation promised by Israel — threaten to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war. Before Iran’s attack on Tuesday, Israel had landed a series of devastating blows in recent weeks against Hezbollah’s leadership in Lebanon. It ratcheted up the pressure on the militant group — which has been firing rockets into Israel since the war in Gaza began — by launching what it said is a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran will pay a price for its missile barrage.
Ramesh #NotGoingBack