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INDIA TODAY
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington believes both Iran and Hezbollah will retaliate against Israel as early as Monday, and that diplomatically pressuring Tehran to limit its assault is the best way to avoid regional war.
In Short
- Blinken warns G7 of imminent Iranian-led attack on Israel
- Says US aims to de-escalate Middle East tensions
- G7 urges restraint amid fears of broader conflict
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned the Group of Seven (G7) nations that an Iranian-led attack on Israel could occur as early as Monday, Axios reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Blinken’s warning comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of key Hezbollah and Hamas officials, which has prompted fears of a broader regional conflict.
During a conference call with his counterparts from the G7 on Sunday, Blinken said that Washington believes Iran and its proxy, Lebanese group Hezbollah, are poised to strike Israel. The US is working to de-escalate the situation, aiming to prevent a full-scale war by pressuring Tehran to limit the scope of its imminent retaliation, he added.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact timing of the attack, Blinken told the G7 ministers that it could begin “in the next 24 to 48 hours”.
In the call, Blinken also expressed frustration with Israel’s handling of recent negotiations over a potential Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. He reportedly said negotiators were “close to a breakthrough” before Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s killing.
Amid growing fears of a multi-front war in the Middle East, the G7 issued a statement urging all parties involved to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation, reported news agency Reuters.
“Recent events have threatened to ignite a broader conflict in the region,” the G7 statement read. The group called on all sides “to lower tensions and engage constructively toward de-escalation.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has taken a hardline stance, vowing to stand firm against what he describes as a coordinated effort by Iran to surround Israel with hostile forces.
“Iran and its minions are looking to surround us in a stranglehold of terrorism. We are determined to stand against them on every front and in every arena — near and far,” Netanyahu said ahead of a high-level security meeting on Sunday.
Tensions have been running high since the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran last week, which came just a day after senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr was killed in Beirut.
Both groups, backed by Iran, have vowed to avenge these killings, further stoking fears of a wider Middle Eastern war.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden is set to convene his national security team on Monday to discuss the situation, and the Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional military assets to the region in a bid to deter further escalation.