News – Middle East: Political analyst and researcher Bilal Al-Laqees stated that both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy Kaaba are sacred Islamic sites of immense significance. However, he emphasized that the dignity of Muslims today depends on their awareness of the central cause — the Palestinian issue — and that the ongoing battle revolves around it.

He described the current confrontation as a meaningful one, revealing that all forms of oppression and tyranny are aligning against the Muslim world. Al-Laqees affirmed that Iran is not only defending its own sovereignty, but also the sanctities of Islam and the broader Muslim nation. He acknowledged that while political statements from Islamic countries are positive and welcomed, the situation demands much stronger and more decisive action at this critical stage.

He noted that the Zionist enemy’s continued prevention of worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque — now for the seventh consecutive day — proves that this is not merely a political or military conflict. Rather, it is a battle against Islam itself: against its places of worship, beliefs, and acts of devotion. He stressed that this makes the confrontation not only political or military, but also cultural, civilizational, existential, and historical.

Al-Laqees warned that some Muslims, through their complacency or misguided actions, might unintentionally contribute to worsening the crisis — a deeply dangerous possibility. He called for a greater sense of responsibility, asserting that the confrontation must move to a deeper level, as it is ultimately a battle over the very existence and identity of the Islamic nation.

The war on Gaza, ongoing since October 2023, has intensified regional tensions and drawn widespread condemnation. With over 37,000 Palestinians killed, including large numbers of civilians, the conflict has highlighted Israel’s continued restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque — seen by many as a direct attack on Islamic sanctities.

The Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran marks a dangerous regional escalation. The attack reflects the West’s strategic hostility toward an independent Iran — particularly for its support of the Palestinian cause and refusal to submit to Western pressure.The nuclear issue has been weaponized against Iran despite its non-pursuit of nuclear arms, while the Zionist entity, which possesses nuclear weapons, remains shielded from accountability.

The recent Israeli strike follows a pattern of assassinations targeting Iranian commanders, scientists, and civilians. In response, Iran launched a major counteroffensive on Thursday as part of Operation True Promise III. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that the fifteenth phase of the operation involved ballistic missiles and over a hundred suicide and combat drones targeting Israeli military and industrial sites in Jaffa and Haifa, particularly missile defense systems.

Iran’s forceful retaliation signals a broader shift in the rules of engagement — positioning Iran as a central force in the regional resistance axis and challenging the perceived invulnerability of the Zionist entity’s defenses.