Israel has started attacking Iranian ships in a new front in the conflict between Israel and Iran opening up an expansion of their hostilities in the Middle East.

Reports say Israel has targeted at least a dozen vessels bound for Syria and mostly carrying Iranian oil. As Israel is concerned that petroleum profits are funding Iranian extremism in the region.

Iran, whose leaders repeatedly call for Israel’s destruction, backs the Hezbollah terrorist group, as well as terror groups in the Gaza Strip.

An Iranian container ship traveling in the Mediterranean was damaged in an attack this week, an Iranian official said Friday, calling the incident a “terrorist act.”

The ship was slightly damaged by an explosive object causing a small fire that was extinguished by the crew but no one on board was hurt.

Reports reveal Israel has been using weaponry including water mines to strike Iranian vessels or those carrying Iranian cargo as they navigate toward Syria in the Red Sea and in other areas.

Some of the naval attacks also have targeted Iranian efforts to move other cargo including weaponry through the region, according to U.S. officials.

The attacks did not sink the ships but forced vessels to return to port for repairs. The attacks mark a new front in the shadow war between Israel and Iran.

Israel says Iran was behind a blast on an Israeli-owned ship in the Persian Gulf last month when there was an explosion on the MV Helios Ray caused by mines.

And Israel’s environment minister blamed Iran for a deliberate oil spill off the Israeli coast last month that sowed hundreds of tons of tar polluting beaches along most of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline.

The Biblical prophecies (Matthew 24, Luke 21) foretell that there will be wars and rumors of wars signaling the world is nearing the end of this age.