TEHRAN: Diplomatic pressure mounted on Monday to avoid an escalation between Iran and Israel following high-profile assassinations that have sent regional tensions soaring, while various governments urged their citizens to leave Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement late Sunday, reiterated Israel’s resolve to confront Iran and its allied groups “on all fronts.” The statement comes as Israel prepares for possible retaliatory actions from Iran and its regional allies following the recent killings of high-profile figures.
The recent wave of violence began with the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior political leader of Hamas, in Tehran on Wednesday. Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, it is widely believed to be behind the attack. Hours before the attack on Haniyeh, an Israeli airstrike in Beirut resulted in the death of Hezbollah’s military chief, Fuad Shukr.
Tehran has responded strongly, with Iranian officials declaring their right to retaliate against what they describe as the “Zionist regime.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that any attack on Iran would be met with severe consequences.
In response to the escalating situation, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a conference call with G7 counterparts, warning of an imminent attack on Israel that could involve both Hezbollah and Iran.
Blinken urged international allies to apply diplomatic pressure on Tehran, Hezbollah, and Israel to exercise maximum restraint. According to Axios, Blinken said that an attack could be imminent, potentially occurring within 24 to 48 hours.
Meanwhile, several governments have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon due to the heightened risk. Turkey, along with other Western nations, has issued travel warnings, and airlines have suspended or restricted flights to the region. Germany’s Lufthansa, for instance, has halted flights to Tel Aviv and is avoiding Iraqi and Iranian airspace until August 7.
The United Nations’ rights chief, Volker Turk, has called for urgent action to de-escalate the situation. Similarly, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, representing the G7 presidency, has urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine dialogue.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi made a rare diplomatic visit to Tehran, delivering a message from King Abdullah II. Safadi emphasized Jordan’s concern about the potential for conflict spilling over into its territory and asserted that Jordan would not tolerate violations of its sovereignty.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 39,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the territory’s health ministry reported on Monday.
Experts and diplomats fear that the expected attack on Israel could rapidly spiral into a regional war.
Even as the region braced for further escalation, Hezbollah and Israel continued their near-daily exchanges of fire.
The Lebanese health ministry said four people were killed in two separate Israeli strikes on the border towns of Mais al-Jabal and Hula, while Hezbollah said it had targeted military sites in northern Israel with “explosive-laden drones”.
Tehran has said it expects Hezbollah to hit deeper inside Israel and no longer be confined to military targets.
Israel’s ally the United States said it was moving additional warships and fighter jets to the region.
US President Joe Biden was scheduled to meet with his national security team later Monday “to discuss developments in the Middle East”, the White House said.
Months of talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, aimed at a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage-release deal have repeatedly stalled.
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Hamas officials but also some analysts as well as protesters in Israel have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war to safeguard his hard-right ruling coalition.
The killing of Haniyeh, who was Hamas’s lead negotiator in truce talks, “does not suggest Israel is sincerely interested in a ceasefire”, said Middle East expert Andreas Krieg.
