A boy is seen dangling off a an unexploded rocket in chilling new photographs from the Middle East conflict as more countries in the region came under fire from Iran
Shocking new pictures from the Middle East conflict shows a young boy climbing on top of an unexploded Iranian rocket.
In one of the snaps, the boy is seen hanging off the missile in the open field in the outskirts of Qamishli, eastern Syria. In another, he pokes the rocket while accompanied by another child and two adults, with sheep visible in the foreground.
He was just one of a crowd of locals who gathered to see the unexploded ordinance yesterday as Iran’s barrage of the wider region continued. Syria is just one of a number of countries in the region that has been hit by missiles fired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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Meanwhile, thousands of Syrians have crossed from Lebanon into Syria to flee Israeli strikes over the past three days as Israel and the Iran-allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalated their attacks against each other.
Today, Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry said it is preparing a “necessary response” after Iranian drones hit an airport in the nation.
The ministry said in a statement that Azerbaijan “strongly condemns the attacks on civilian infrastructure” by the Iranian military, adding that Iran bears full responsibility for the explosion Nakhchivan international airport, which left two people injured.
It said it was “preparing the necessary response measures to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, ensure the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and these attacks will not go unanswered.”
Iran continued to launch attacks at countries across the Middle East overnight, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait targeted with missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, Cyprus says the Iranian-made Shahed drone that struck a British airbase on the island nation’s southern coastline was launched from Lebanon – adding to suspicions it was fired by Hezbollah.
A Cypriot official confirmed Thursday the drone that damaged a hangar at RAF Akrotiri just after midnight Monday had taken off from the Lebanese capital.
Two more drones detected midday Monday were intercepted by British warplanes that took off from RAF Akrotiri.
Britain has deployed air defence destroyer HMS Dragon to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 warship is not expected to sail until next week.
Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities have also been dispatched to the island, and are expected to arrive there this week.
Defence Secretary John Healey is travelling to Cyprus today to ease tensions with the island’s government, after Cypriot High Commissioner said British reinforcements on the island were the “least we expect”.