Joe Biden meets national security team as fears of Iran attack on Israel grow
US President Joe Biden convened his senior national security team on Monday amid growing concerns of a potential Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel.
Biden stated that he had been briefed on the measures being taken to support Israel in the event of an attack, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that officials were working “around the clock” to prevent any escalation.
Tensions have escalated over the past week following the assassination of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran has accused Israel of the assassination and has vowed severe retaliation, though Israel has not claimed responsibility.
In response, several countries, including the US and UK, have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon due to fears that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, might play a role in any potential conflict.
During the briefing, Biden was informed that the timing and nature of any Iranian attack remained uncertain, according to Axios. Blinken reportedly warned G7 counterparts that Iran and Hezbollah could potentially attack Israel within 24 to 48 hours.
In a statement released after the briefing, Mr Biden said: “We received updates on threats posed by Iran and its proxies, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, and preparations to support Israel should it be attacked again.”
He added that steps were being taken to respond to attacks on US forces “in a manner and place of our choosing”. On Monday, several US personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack on a US military base in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Mr Blinken said officials were “engaged in intense diplomacy pretty much around the clock with a very simple message: All parties must refrain from escalation”.
“Escalation is not in anyone’s interests. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity,” he said.
He added that a ceasefire would “unlock possibilities for more enduring calm not only in Gaza itself, but in other areas where the conflict can spread”.
“It is urgent that all parties make the right choices in the hours and days ahead,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Biden spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan about “efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal”, a statement from the White House said.
A joint statement from the G7 also expressed “deep concern at the heightened level of tension in the Middle East which threatens to ignite a broader conflict in the region”.
“No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East,” it said.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza have stumbled in recent weeks amid escalating violence.
On July 27, a strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers. Israel attributed the attack to Hezbollah, which has denied involvement.
Subsequent to this, Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah military commander, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a suburb of Beirut, along with four others, including two children.
Shortly after, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran. The Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that Haniyeh was killed by a “short-range projectile” fired from outside a house in Tehran where he was staying.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas indicated that Haniyeh’s assassination would negatively impact ongoing negotiations. Israel has not commented on the assassination, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had delivered “crushing blows” to Iran’s proxy groups recently.
In response to the killings, the IRGC warned of “severe punishment” for Israel, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced that the conflict had entered a “new phase.”
This escalation is the closest the conflict has come to a major confrontation since April, when Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Israel following an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria.
Flights suspended
On Monday, Jordan requested that all airlines landing at its airports carry an additional 45 minutes’ worth of fuel. This precautionary measure is intended in case Jordan needs to close its airspace due to potential regional conflict.
German carrier Lufthansa has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, and Beirut until August 12. Similarly, US airline Delta has halted flights to Tel Aviv until at least August 31 due to ongoing regional conflict.
The UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Lebanon and recommended that British citizens currently in the country leave. It also advises against travel to northern Israel, which borders Lebanon.
The conflict in Gaza began after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and other militant groups, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza.
Since Israel’s retaliatory ground invasion, over 39,600 Palestinians have been reported killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces have engaged in near-daily clashes, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hezbollah and Hamas, both supported by Iran, are part of what Iran refers to as the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of militant and political groups opposed to Israel and the US.