Amid the rising tension in West Asia, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly issued a stark warning to G7 foreign ministers about possible retaliatory actions by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel. The warning comes in the wake of recent assassinations of key figures in Hamas and Hezbollah.
According to sources familiar with a phone call between Blinken and G7 ministers, the U.S. believes that both Iran and Hezbollah may launch attacks on Israel “as early as Monday.” The exact nature of these potential retaliations remains unclear. Earlier Blinken has talked to his GCC counterparts for de-escalation efforts. This heightened alert follows the recent killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, actions widely attributed to Israel. These assassinations have significantly escalated tensions in the already volatile Middle East region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the situation in a cabinet meeting on Sunday, stating that Israel is prepared for “any scenario, both offensively and defensively.” He described the current situation as a “multifront war against Iran’s axis of evil.
This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has persisted for nearly ten months. As diplomatic channels remain active, the next 24 to 48 hours are considered critical in determining the course of events in the region.
