Iran Launches Missile Attack on Israel Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

In a significant escalation of Middle Eastern conflicts, Iran has launched a barrage of ballistic missiles towards Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday evening that “missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel,” instructing civilians to seek shelter upon hearing alert sirens.

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The UN Won’t Protect Gaza, But Can Adopt A ‘Pact for the Future?’

The United Nations has become a parody of itself. As world leaders gathered in New York this week, Gaza, Lebanon, and Palestine were nowhere on the agenda, but a rammed-through US Pact designed to protect the ‘rules-based order’ was right at the top.

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Global Nuclear Tensions Upgraded

In an era marked by increasing geopolitical tensions, recent developments in nuclear doctrine and military capabilities among world powers have raised concerns about global stability.

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Indonesia-Russia Relations: A Comprehensive Analysis

As we stand on the cusp of a new era in international relations, the partnership between Indonesia and Russia emerges as a pivotal alliance that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

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Israel-Lebanon Conflict: Escalating Tensions and Humanitarian Concerns

As of September 24, 2024, the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border has taken a drastic turn, with reports of massive Israeli airstrikes targeting southern and eastern Lebanon.

This escalation marks a significant development in the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict.

Massive Israeli Airstrikes

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry’s Emergency Operations Center, a wave of Israeli airstrikes on September 23 resulted in at least 182 fatalities and 727 injuries, including civilians, women, and children. The attacks targeted various areas in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region, with hundreds of strikes reported within hours.

Key Points:

  • Over 180 people killed in Israeli airstrikes
  • Hundreds of strikes targeting southern and eastern Lebanon
  • Civilian homes destroyed in multiple villages
  • Bekaa region also targeted in the attacks

The National News Agency (NNA) of Lebanon reported that several civilian homes were destroyed in villages such as Sohmor in the Bekaa and various areas in the south. The Israeli military intensified its raids on all areas, including valleys and outskirts of towns in the western sector of south Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s Response

In response to the Israeli attacks, Hezbollah’s military media announced that its fighters targeted several Israeli military installations, including:

  • The reserve headquarters of the Northern Corps
  • The reserve base of the Galilee Division and its logistical warehouses in the Amiad base
  • Military industries complexes of the Rafael Company in the Zevulun area north of Haifa

These targets were reportedly struck with dozens of rockets, marking a significant escalation in Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.

Israeli Warnings and Strategy

The Israeli army sent text messages to Lebanese citizens in south Lebanon and the Bekaa, warning them to “stay away” from Hezbollah sites. This communication preceded the intense airstrikes across the region.

An Israeli security source told Yedioth Ahronoth that the Air Force planned to launch “wide and powerful attacks across Lebanon during the early afternoon hours.”

Recent Escalations

The current situation follows a series of events that have heightened tensions in the region:

  1. On September 22, Hezbollah struck deep within Israel, targeting the Ramat David airbase and a Rafael military industry site in the Haifa area.
  2. On September 20, Israel assassinated two top Hezbollah commanders and several fighters in a strike on Beirut, which also resulted in civilian casualties.
  3. Earlier, Israel had carried out a terror attack in Lebanon, detonating thousands of communication devices distributed to Hezbollah members, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.

Potential for Further Escalation

The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation on both sides. The international community watches closely as these events unfold, concerned about the humanitarian impact and the risk of a broader regional conflict.

Humanitarian Concerns

The escalating conflict has raised significant humanitarian concerns:

  • High civilian casualty rates
  • Destruction of homes and infrastructure
  • Potential displacement of populations in affected areas
  • Risk of a wider humanitarian crisis if the conflict continues to escalate

International Response

As of the time of writing, the international community’s response to this latest escalation is still developing. It is expected that various nations and international organizations will call for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic channels to resolve the ongoing tensions.

Conclusion

The situation between Israel and Lebanon remains highly volatile and dangerous. As both sides continue to engage in military actions, the risk of a larger conflict looms, especially when the political survival of Bibi Netanyahu necessitates the continuance of hostilities in the region.

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether diplomatic efforts can succeed in de-escalating the situation or if the region will face a more protracted and potentially devastating conflict.

Covert Geopolitics is an independent online platform for in-depth analysis of international affairs, geopolitics, and emerging global trends. We strive to provide accurate, timely, and insightful coverage of major world events and their implications. We are committed to journalistic integrity, factual reporting, and fostering informed discourse on complex global issues. © 2024 Covert Geopolitics. All rights reserved.

Lebanon Pager Attack: A Montrous Act of Terrorism by MOSSAD

In a shocking turn of events, Lebanon has been rocked by what many are calling a “monstrous act of terrorism.” On a fateful Tuesday, thousands of pagers simultaneously detonated across the country, leaving a trail of destruction, death, and injury in their wake.

Continue reading Lebanon Pager Attack: A Montrous Act of Terrorism by MOSSAD

From 11 September to 7 October: The Fake ‘War on Terror’ Collapses

For years, the US executed Israel’s regional destabilization program using phantom terrorists as justification for the ‘War on Terror.’ But 7 October 2023 killed Washington’s never-ending war project – with a flip of the switch, US adversaries have now turned the ‘Long War’ on Israel.

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Russia-Mongolia Relations and Global Nuclear Dynamics: A Comprehensive Analysis

In an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape, the relationship between Russia and Mongolia has taken center stage, highlighting the intricate dance of diplomacy, strategic partnerships, and global power dynamics.

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A Return to Form: Expediting US Weapons and Military Supplies to Israel

Despite much grandstanding in the Biden administration about halting specific arms shipments to Israel over feigned concerns about how they might be used (inflicting death is the expected form), US military supplies have been restored with barely a murmur.  In a report in Haaretz on August 29, a rush of weapons to Israel has been noticed since the end of July.

Continue reading A Return to Form: Expediting US Weapons and Military Supplies to Israel

The Evolving Landscape of UN Security Council Sanctions

The world has undergone a remarkable transformation since the end of the Cold War, transitioning from a unipolar order dominated by the United States to a more multipolar landscape.

Continue reading The Evolving Landscape of UN Security Council Sanctions

The Enduring Significance of Military Alliances in Global Politics

In the ever-evolving landscape of international relations, military alliances continue to play a pivotal role in shaping global politics. From ancient Greece to the modern era, these strategic partnerships have been instrumental in maintaining peace, deterring aggression, and sometimes, unfortunately, in waging wars.

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With Belarus and Azerbaijan Becoming BRICS Members, Russia Gains Weight in Eurasia

Russia today is taking another pivotal moment in its history, (with a series of many landmark issues) under its presidency of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), referred to as informal association, consistently forging collaborative relations with developing countries.

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People Power 2024 Has Been Initiated to Remove the Marcos Jr. Narco-Gov’t

Only one media network is broadcasting what’s really going on inside the raid of the once pristine place of worship of the 8-million strong Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group behind the successful operation against the communist movement and the rule of the Jesuit-installed oligarchy in the country.

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Pavel Durov’s Arrest: A Turning Point for Free Speech and Online Privacy

In a shocking turn of events, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging app Telegram, was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on a Saturday in 2024. This incident has sent ripples through the tech world and raised serious concerns about the future of online privacy and free speech.

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Cooperation vs. Confrontation in the Indo-Pacific

In the complex landscape of international relations, two distinct paradigms have emerged in the Indo-Pacific region. On one side, there’s a push for mutual progress and development through economic cooperation and infrastructure projects.

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This European Region Could Be the Next Ukraine

The conflict between Russia and the West won’t end after Kiev is no longer viable as a proxy.

The “Ukraine crisis” is not actually an accurate name for what is happening now in relations between Russia and the West. This confrontation is global. It touches virtually every functional area – from finance to pharmaceuticals to sport – and spans many geographical regions.

In Europe, which has become the epicenter of this confrontation, the highest level of tension outside Ukraine is now in the Baltic region. The question often asked in Russia (and in the West) is: Will this become the next theater of war?

In Western Europe and North America, a scenario has long been contemplated in which the Russian Army, after its victory in Ukraine, continues to march forward – next seeking to conquer the Baltic republics and Poland.

The purpose of this simple propaganda fantasy is clear: to convince Western Europeans that if they do not “invest fully” in supporting Kiev, they may end up with a war on their own territory.

It is telling that almost no one in the EU dares to publicly ask whether Moscow is interested in a direct armed conflict with NATO. What would its aims be in such a war? And what price would it be willing to pay? Obviously, even posing such questions could lead to accusations of spreading Russian propaganda.

Our country takes note of provocative statements made by our northwestern neighbors, the Poles, the Baltic states, and the Finns. They have referred to the possibility of blockading the Kaliningrad exclave by sea and land, and closing Russia’s exit from the Gulf of Finland. Such statements are mostly made by retired politicians, but sometimes sitting ministers and military officers also raise their voices.

The threats do not cause panic among Russians. Decisions of this magnitude are made in Washington, not in Warsaw or Tallinn. Nevertheless, the situation cannot be ignored.

The Baltic Sea region lost its status as the most stable and peaceful region in Europe many years ago. Since Poland (1999), Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (2004), and most recently Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024) joined NATO, it became, as they proudly and happily repeat in Brussels, a “NATO lake.” It is a two-hour drive from Narva (i.e. NATO) to St. Petersburg. After Finland joined the US-led bloc, the line of direct contact increased by 1,300km, meaning it doubled. St. Petersburg is less than 150km from this border. Thus, the price of Moscow’s voluntary abandonment of the principle of geopolitical containment at the end of the Cold War was high.

NATO territory has not only expanded and moved closer to the Russian border; it is actively being equipped for operations. Corridors for rapid access of NATO forces to the frontier (the so-called military Schengen) have become operational; new military bases are being built and existing ones are being upgraded; the physical presence of US and allied forces in the region is increasing; military, air and naval exercises are becoming more intensive and extensive. Washington’s announcement that it intends to deploy intermediate-range missiles in Germany in 2026 draws parallels with the so-called Euro-missile crisis of the early 1980s, which was considered the most dangerous period of the Cold War after the Cuban standoff in October 1962.

The current situation in the northwest is forcing Moscow to strengthen its strategy of military deterrence against the enemy. A number of steps have already been taken. To bolster non-nuclear deterrence, the Leningrad Military District has been reconstituted and new formations and units are being created where they had long been absent. Military integration between Russia and Belarus has progressed significantly. Nuclear weapons have already been deployed on Belarusian territory. Exercises involving Moscow’s non-strategic nuclear forces have taken place. Official warnings have been issued that, under certain conditions, military facilities in the territory of NATO countries will become legitimate targets. A modernization of Russia’s nuclear doctrine has been announced. Atomic deterrence is becoming a more active tool of Russian strategy.

We can only hope that Washington realizes that a naval blockade of Kaliningrad or St. Petersburg would be a casus belli – an excuse to declare war. The current American administration does not seem to desire a major direct conflict with Russia. But history shows that they sometimes happen when neither side seems to want them. The strategy of creeping escalation in order to strategically defeat Russia, which the US has adopted in the protracted proxy war in Ukraine, carries with it the risk of just such a scenario, where the logic of a process once set in motion begins to determine political and military decisions and the situation quickly spirals out of control.

Another danger lies in Washington’s de facto encouragement not only of irresponsible rhetoric but also of irresponsible action by American satellites. The latter, convinced of their impunity, may go too far in thoughtlessly provoking Moscow, thereby bringing the US and Russia into direct armed conflict. Again, we can only hope that America’s instinct for self-preservation will be stronger than its arrogance.

Hopes are hopes, but it is clear that Russia has already exhausted its reserve of verbal warnings. The hostile actions of our adversaries do not call for condemnation, but for an appropriate response. We are now talking about airfields in NATO countries, including Poland, where the F-16s handed over to Kiev may well be based; possible attempts by Estonia and Finland to disrupt shipping in the Gulf of Finland; the prospect of Lithuania cutting the railway link between Kaliningrad and mainland Russia on various pretexts; and significant threats to our ally Belarus. A tough response at an early stage in the development of each of these possible schemes has a better chance of preventing a dangerous escalation. Of course, the strongest position for Russia is to be proactive, to pursue a preventive strategy in which Moscow does not react to the enemy’s escalatory steps, but takes the strategic initiative.

It should be borne in mind that Russia’s confrontation with the collective West will continue after the end of active military operations against Ukraine. From the Arctic, which is a separate area of rivalry, to the Black Sea, there is already a solid, unbroken dividing line. European security is no longer a relevant concept, and Eurasian security, including the European component, is a matter for the distant future. A long period of “non-world peace” lies ahead, during which Russia will have to rely on its own forces and capabilities rather than on agreements with Western states for its security. For the foreseeable future, the Baltic region – that once-promising bridge on the road to a “Greater Europe” – is likely to be the most militarized and Russia-hostile part of the neighborhood. How stable the situation will be depends, of course, on the goals of the Ukraine operation being achieved.

This article was first published by Profile.ru, and was translated and edited by the RT team.

Dmitry Trenin, a research professor at the Higher School of Economics and a lead research fellow at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. He is also a member of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).

The Global Gambit: Unraveling the Complexities of Russian Asset Confiscation

In a bold move that has sent ripples through the global financial community, the United States House of Representatives has passed legislation that could pave the way for the confiscation of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets.

Continue reading The Global Gambit: Unraveling the Complexities of Russian Asset Confiscation

Tensions Soar as Iran Issues Aviation Warning and Hamas Appoints New Leader

In a rapidly evolving situation that threatens to destabilize the already volatile Middle East, Iran has issued a stark warning to aviators as it contemplates retaliatory action against Israel.

Continue reading Tensions Soar as Iran Issues Aviation Warning and Hamas Appoints New Leader

Global Market Crash 2024: Causes, Consequences, and the Fed’s Role

The global financial markets experienced a significant shock on August 5, 2024, as fears of a potential US recession triggered a widespread sell-off across various asset classes. This article explores the causes and consequences of this market crash, its impact on different sectors, and the role of the Federal Reserve in stabilizing the situation.

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Food, Dispossession and Dependency

We are currently seeing an acceleration of the corporate consolidation of the entire global agri-food chain. The high-tech/big data conglomerates, including Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Google, have joined traditional agribusiness giants, such as Corteva, Bayer, Cargill and Syngenta, in a quest to impose their model of food and agriculture on the world.

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The Great Divide: Unveiling the Gap Between Paper and Physical Economies

In the intricate web of global finance, a puzzling phenomenon has captured the attention of economists, policymakers, and financial experts alike: the growing chasm between the size of the economy as represented on paper and the tangible, physical economy that exists in the real world.

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Escalation in Middle East: Netanyahu’s High-Stakes Gamble Risks Regional Escalation

The recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has sent shockwaves through the Middle East, potentially derailing ceasefire negotiations and risking a wider regional conflict.

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China’s Diplomatic Efforts Reshaping Middle East and Ukraine Conflicts

In recent years, China has emerged as a significant diplomatic player on the world stage, filling voids left by diminishing US involvement in key global conflicts. From brokering peace deals in the Middle East to mediating discussions on the Ukraine crisis, Beijing’s influence is reshaping international relations and challenging the traditional dominance of Western powers.

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War Criminal Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses the US Congress

To my surprise, last Thursday morning there was relatively little coverage of the address to the US Congress delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Wednesday afternoon apart from a critical opinion piece that appeared in the New York Times regarding Israel’s war on the Palestinians.

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Engineering a Crisis: How Political Theater Helps the Deep State Stay in Power

“The two ‘sides’ of mainstream politics are not fighting against one another, they’re only fighting against you. Their only job is to keep you clapping along with the two-handed puppet show as they rob you blind and tighten your chains while your gaze is fixed on the performance.”—Caitlin Johnstone

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Global IT Meltdown: CrowdStrike Update Paralyzes Air Travel and Media Worldwide

In an unprecedented technological catastrophe, a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike triggered a global IT outage on July 19, 2024, causing widespread disruptions across multiple sectors.

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The Shifting Tides of Power: Trump, Ukraine, and the Future of US Foreign Policy

In a world where geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, recent events have thrust the complex relationship between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia back into the spotlight.

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ICJ Declares Israel’s Occupation Illegal: Global Reactions and Implications

In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, marking a significant moment in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This advisory opinion, sought by the United Nations General Assembly, has sent ripples through the international community and reignited debates about the future of the occupied territories.

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Iran’s New Direction: President-Elect Pezeshkian’s Balanced Approach to Global Relations

In the wake of former President Ebrahim Raisi’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in mid-May, Iran held snap elections that resulted in the victory of Masoud Pezeshkian. The President-elect has since published a foreign policy vision in the Tehran Times titled “My message to the new world,” which has been described as refreshing due to its departure from the zero-sum thinking that often dominates international relations discourse.

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Why Assume There Will be a 2024 Election? 

Trump’s near assassination this weekend represents an incredibly important reminder of the stakes going into the 2024 election amidst a vast systemic collapse and heightened threat of a thermonuclear war. At this stage, despite the cast of compromised characters among Trump’s support network, no one has displayed so consistent a quality of leadership that qualifies them for dealing with the current crisis as Trump has displayed.

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BRICS Parliament & Expansion: Shaping a New Global Order

The BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been making significant strides in reshaping global governance and economic cooperation. Recent developments, including the expansion of the bloc and calls for reform in international institutions, highlight the growing influence of this coalition of emerging economies.

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The Ukraine Conflict: A Looming Threat to European Stability

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has evolved from a regional dispute into a potential powder keg that threatens to engulf Europe in a broader conflict. This article examines the complex dynamics at play, exploring the contrasting interests of the United States and Europe, and the dire consequences that could unfold if the situation continues to escalate.

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The Gaza Conflict: A Humanitarian Crisis That Western Governments Chose to Ignore

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has escalated into a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. This summary aims to provide an overview of the situation, focusing on the impact on civilians, particularly the healthcare system, and the wider implications of the conflict.

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Julian Assange is Free: Washington Crafted “A Face Saving Deal”

If the news report from Sky News that reached me early this morning is not a hoax, the US government, increasingly regarded worldwide as a criminal organization, could not convince British courts to extradite Julian AssangeWashington was unable or unwilling to provide the British assurances that Assange would not be abused and denied his rights.

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Beyond the Smoke & Mirrors