U S Secretary of State Antony Blinken has alerted his G7 counterparts about the possibility of an imminent attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel, potentially commencing as early as Monday, according to a report by Axios. This warning comes amidst escalating tensions in the region, following recent violent incidents.
In Israel, the leading daily Times of Israel reported that the government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is considering a preemptive strike on Iran to thwart any potential attacks on Israeli territory. A high-level meeting involving key figures such as Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi was convened by Netanyahu to deliberate on this matter.
Hezbollah, which was established in the early 1980s with support from Iran, serves as Iran's primary proxy in the Middle East. The group is funded and armed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and aligns closely with Tehran's ideology, recruiting predominantly from Lebanon's Shiite Muslim population.
The tension has been further inflamed by Iran's announcement that Hezbollah will intensify its attacks deeper into Israeli territory, potentially expanding its targets beyond military installations. This statement follows Israel's recent assassination of senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in a densely populated residential area in south Beirut on July 30, which also resulted in the deaths of five civilians.
Complicating the situation, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly assassinated in Tehran, an act attributed to Israel though not confirmed by Israeli authorities.
The potential for a full-scale conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has raised significant concerns, recalling the devastating war between the two in the summer of 2006, which included Israel bombing Beirut's only passenger airport.
The heightened risk of escalation has led various embassies, including India's, to urge their citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available.
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