During rising tensions in the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a stark warning to his G7 counterparts over the weekend, alerting them to the possibility of a coordinated attack on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah as soon as Monday. This revelation, reported by Axios, came during a Sunday conference call where Blinken emphasized the urgency of diplomatic pressure to mitigate potential retaliation.
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US media exposure: #Blinken told G7 Foreign Minister that #Iran and Hezbollah in #Lebanon “will launch an attack as early as 24 hours”！🛰🚀🆘🆘🆘 pic.twitter.com/71IQckIw2z— See Lanxi (@ZhejiangChinaLX) August 5, 2024
Blinken’s plea for restraint was clear: if Iran and Hezbollah could be persuaded to limit their strikes, the region might avoid descending into an all-out war. This call for diplomatic intervention followed the recent assassinations of prominent leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, which have escalated hostilities. According to sources briefed on the call, Blinken expressed a belief that retaliatory actions by Iran and Hezbollah were imminent, potentially within the next 24 to 48 hours.
During the discussions with G7 foreign ministers, Blinken also touched upon recent ceasefire negotiations. He mentioned that the Biden administration felt on the verge of a breakthrough before the assassination of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran derailed progress. Furthermore, Blinken assured the G7 leaders that the additional US forces deployed in the region were purely for defensive purposes.
Barak Ravid spoke with @Acosta on Sec. Blinken stating that Iran and Hezbollah could attack Israel in the next 24 hours.
📺: @NewsCentralCNN | @BarakRavid | @axios pic.twitter.com/ztPtKwPOn4
— Axios Comms (@AxiosComms) August 5, 2024
In a collective statement, the G7 ministers acknowledged the rising tensions in the Middle East. They urged all involved parties to avoid perpetuating the current cycle of retaliatory violence, calling for a reduction in hostilities and a commitment to constructive engagement toward de-escalation. The ministers emphasized that no nation stands to benefit from further escalation in the region.
Israel, anticipating the potential for an attack, has taken several preparatory steps. Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command, is expected to arrive in Israel to assist the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in anticipation of the possible strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and top military and intelligence officials, held a crucial meeting on Sunday night to discuss their strategy.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned his counterparts from the G7 countries that an attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel could commence soon.
Source: Reuters | #USA #AntonyBlinken #Iran #Israel #Hezbollah #IsraelHamasWar pic.twitter.com/WXUd9S0ftS
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 5, 2024
Netanyahu’s resolute stance was evident as he declared, “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. Whoever seeks to harm us will pay a very heavy price.”
In addition, Defense Minister Gallant communicated with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, reinforcing the strategic alignment and preparedness of both nations in response to the escalating threat.
Major Points
- Blinken’s urgent call to G7 over potential Iran-Hezbollah attack
- Diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation
- Iran and Hezbollah’s response to recent assassinations
- G7’s call for de-escalation in the Middle East
- Preparations and responses by the US and Israel
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
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