On Sunday, Secretary of State Tony Blinken alerted his G7 counterparts that an imminent attack on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah could occur as soon as Monday, according to three sources familiar with the call who spoke to Axios.
Blinken organized the call to synchronize efforts with key US allies and apply last-minute diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah, aiming to curb their potential retaliation. He underscored that limiting the scope of their attacks is crucial to preventing a full-scale war.
This development follows vows from Hezbollah and Iran to retaliate for the assassination of Hamas Political leader Ismail Haniyeh by Israel in Tehran. The United States is actively working to reduce the likelihood of attacks from Hezbollah and Iran while also seeking to restrain Israeli retaliation. Blinken urged other foreign ministers to diplomatically press Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel to exercise maximum restraint. US forces in the region are being augmented for defensive purposes in response to threats from Iran and Hezbollah, sources told Axios.
In an official statement, the G7 ministers expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East, warning that the situation threatens to spark a broader regional conflict.
“We urge all involved parties to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to lower tensions and engage constructively towards de-escalation. No country or nation stands to gain from further escalation in the Middle East,” they stated.
General Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, is set to arrive in Israel on Monday to finalize preparations with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in anticipation of potential attacks by Iran and Hezbollah. Concurrently, Israel is preparing for possible retaliation from Iran and regional militias following the assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas officials. The US has sent defensive reinforcements and is pushing for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing a cabinet meeting on Sunday, declared, “Israel is in a multifront war against Iran’s axis of evil. We are striking every one of its arms with great force. We are prepared for any scenario – both offensively and defensively.” Leaders of both Iran and Hezbollah have promised that last week’s killings in Beirut and Tehran will not go unanswered, stating that red lines have been crossed and attacks are imminent.
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