Islamic Resistance of Iraq Strikes Eilat Again Amid War in Southern Lebanon

Amidst the reciprocal attacks between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, which entered a new phase at the beginning of this week, Shiite militants allied with the Islamic Republic in Iraq launched a drone attack against Israel once again. The "Islamic Resistance of Iraq" announced on Wednesday, September 25, that it targeted a "vital objective" in Eilat with drones sent towards this port. The Israeli army confirmed that two drones were identified on Wednesday evening entering Israeli airspace over Eilat from the eastern border. The army added that the "Sa'ar 5" ship (an advanced ship equipped with missile artillery in the Israeli navy) intercepted and destroyed one of the drones that posed a threat, while the second drone fell into the waters of the Red Sea. According to Israeli media, two Israeli male citizens were lightly injured on the beach of Eilat and were treated by medical rescue forces on site. Orly Mor, a resident of Eilat, told Israel Hayom that the scene of the drone crash in Eilat while he was exercising on the beach was a "shocking experience." Thousands of Israelis evacuated from northern Israel, who have been exposed to Hezbollah attacks from southern Lebanon over the past year, have been accommodated in hotels in Eilat. Eilat is also one of the main bases of the Israeli navy. An Iraqi militia security official stated on Wednesday night to the Al-Mayadeen network, which aligns with Tehran and Hezbollah, that Iraqi resistance groups are increasing their activities and will raise the level of threat against Israel. This source did not provide further details. The "Islamic Resistance of Iraq" includes multiple Shiite militia groups supportive of Iran, which in recent years have mainly been involved in attacking American forces in Iraq and Syria and have responded to American military counterattacks. Some regional sources claimed that the Nujaba group, a subset of the "Islamic Resistance of Iraq," was responsible for the drone launches on Wednesday night towards Eilat. The Israeli army confirmed the firing of drones and missiles from Iraq and southern Syria against the Golan Heights in previous days and reported intercepting and destroying them. Several leaders of armed Iraqi groups at the beginning of the week, when military conflict between the Israeli army and Hezbollah significantly escalated after a year, stated they were ready to go to Lebanon to fight alongside Hezbollah. It is unclear what plans Israel has prepared in response to the attacks carried out by Shiite militants in Iraq. Iraq is considered a U.S. ally and a major friend of Israel in the region, and several American military forces are stationed in Iraq. Khen Herzog, an Israeli economist, stated on Wednesday to Israel Hayom that repeated attacks against Eilat pose a risk to exports from this important Israeli port. Israel primarily exports potash mineral from Eilat to China. Israeli potash factories send this product from the Dead Sea through Eilat to buyer countries. Potash factory officials told Israeli media that the extraction of this material in the Dead Sea and its export through Eilat's docks has not been harmed and is still ongoing. A significant portion of the country's other exports to Eastern markets is also conducted through this port. The Houthis of Yemen, who are other allies of Tehran, Hamas, and Hezbollah in the region, have attempted several times over the past year to strike Eilat by firing missiles and drones to show their support for the extremist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On September 16 of this year, the Houthis also fired a cruise missile towards central Israel, which was intercepted, and its destroyed wreckage landed in open space. Israel, which is engaged in multiple security crises, especially with Hezbollah, has not yet responded to the Houthi attack on September 16, but the Israeli Prime Minister has emphasized that it will not go unanswered and that the Houthis will be made to pay a "heavy price."