[Anchor]
Gunfire across the Middle East has intensified despite a temporary U.S.-Iran cease-fire agreement.
Israel’s strikes in Lebanon have produced civilian casualties, and Iran’s retaliatory strikes have damaged infrastructure in Gulf states.
Shin Seon-jae reports from Jordan.
[Reporter]
The "wait-and-see" approach is becoming increasingly hazardous.
We urge you to consider leaving before it’s too late.
That appeal came in a letter the South Korean embassy in Lebanon sent to roughly 90 Korean nationals in the country.
Israel has pounded targets across Lebanon, including downtown Beirut, aiming at the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah. After those strikes produced more than 1,000 casualties — including civilians — the embassy urged Koreans to evacuate.
Israel also said it eliminated a close associate of Hezbollah’s leader. But airstrikes have continued, despite a U.S.-Israel, two-week temporary cease-fire, leaving the truce on precarious footing from the outset.
Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, said on April 8 (local time): "I insisted that the truce with Iran does not include a truce with Hezbollah. We're hitting Hezbollah harder… we are ready to return to fighting at any time."
Hezbollah fired rockets in response, and Iran-aligned militias in Iraq warned of further retaliation, accusing Israel of deception.
Iran has also struck at nearby Gulf states.
Kuwait reported attacks on oil and desalination facilities, while Saudi Arabia reported strikes on a 1,200-kilometer inland oil pipeline.
The United Arab Emirates, which said it intercepted 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones after the cease-fire, called on Iran to pay compensation for damage to Gulf states.
With both sides escalating pressure and holding firm to their positions, the remaining period of the cease-fire is in doubt. The prospects for the upcoming peace talks scheduled in Pakistan are likewise growing increasingly uncertain.
This is Shin Seon-jae for Yonhap News TV in Jordan.
[Video shooting: Choi Seong-min]
[Video editing: Kim Do-i]
#U.S. #Israel #Iran #War
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Shin Seon-jae (freshash@yna.co.kr)
