President Joe Biden gathered his senior national security team on Monday in response to growing worries about a possible Iranian retaliation attack on Israel. The conference coincided with Middle Eastern tensions rising as the political head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated. Though Israel has not admitted guilt, Iran has accused Israel of being behind the murder and has promised severe reprisal.
Biden was informed of plans to assist Israel in a strike in response to these threats. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized further that authorities are working nonstop to stop any escalation. Growing concerns surround Hezbollah, an Iran-backed organization located in Lebanon, possibly influencing any Iranian reprisal assault.
Over recent weeks, the political environment has become more complex. An attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights claimed twelve children’s and teenagers’s lives on July 27. Israel accused Hezbollah, which has denied any participation. Israeli attacks aimed against a Hezbollah commander in Beirut after that caused further deaths. With Haniyeh’s murder, which Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said was brought on by a strong blast, the situation worsened even further.
In view of these developments, the US and UK have recommended that its nationals flee Lebanon. As a precaution in case of an Iranian retaliation attack causing a regional war, Jordan has urged planes to carry additional fuel. Airlines, including many, have stopped flying to Beirut, Tehran, and Tel Aviv. The UK Foreign Office also cautioned against visiting northern Israel and Lebanon.
Starting with Hamas’s onslaught on Israel on October 7, the fighting has claimed significant losses on both sides. With both Hezbollah and Iran raising its threats, attempts for a truce have stagnated. International authorities are striving to stop more bloodshed and unrest in the area as the situation stays erratic.
