Hesitant efforts to de-escalate the Middle East - German army apparently preparing evacuation
A potential attack on Israel could be imminent: On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed the foreign ministers of the G7 countries that an attack by Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia could occur within 24 or 48 hours - that is, as early as Monday, as reported by the U.S. news site Axios.
Blinken's spokesperson said on Monday that Blinken had called actors in the Middle East in telephone calls to avoid escalation. "It is important that all parties take steps in the coming days to avoid escalation and calm tensions," Matthew Miller told journalists.
The meeting of President Biden's security team, which was also to be attended by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, was scheduled for 2:15 p.m. local time (8:15 p.m. CEST), according to the White House.
Prior to this, the U.S. President spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah II, according to the White House, about joint efforts to de-escalate the situation in the region, "including an immediate ceasefire and an agreement on the release of hostages."
The German government also called on all actors to contribute to de-escalation. Germany is in contact "at all levels" with partners in the region, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to his own statements.
Meanwhile, the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for the Middle East, Erik Kurilla, arrived in Israel, according to the Israeli army. Together with the Israeli army chief, Herzi Halevi, he conducted an assessment of security and strategic issues, as well as joint preparations in the region as part of the response to threats in the Middle East, the military said.
Iran had threatened retaliation after the Israel-linked fatal attack on Hamas chief Ismail Haniyah in Tehran last week. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani stressed that his country has "the undeniable right to defend our national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
Israel has not commented on Haniyah's death. However, Tehran holds Israel responsible, with the spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatening "harsh retribution."
Just hours before Haniyah's death, Israel also killed Fuad Shukr, the highest-ranking commander of the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah then announced "a new phase on all support fronts" against Israel.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed his country's determination to confront Iran and its allies "on all fronts." He warned that "anyone who harms us will pay a very heavy price."
Given the tense situation, Lufthansa has again adjusted its flight schedule for the Middle East. The company announced that the previously imposed flight ban for flights to Tel Aviv in Israel, Tehran in Iran, and Beirut in Lebanon will be extended "until August 12 inclusive." In addition, the Iranian and Iraqi airspace will initially be avoided until August 7 inclusive.
The German Armed Forces, according to a report by the magazine "Der Spiegel", are preparing for the evacuation of Germans, particularly from Lebanon. The air force has been keeping a small fleet of A400M transport aircraft ready for this purpose for several days. The reason behind this is intelligence reports suggesting a retaliatory strike by Iran against Israel this week. Analysts are quite certain that the pro-Iranian Hezbollah will also launch massive attacks from Lebanon.
In April, Iran directly attacked Israel from its territory for the first time with more than 300 rockets and drones. Tehran denies Israel's right to exist since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and supports both the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip and affiliated militias such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Pro-Iranian militias are also active in Iraq and Syria.
Coinciding with international efforts to de-escalate the situation, the former Russian defense minister and current secretary of the Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, traveled to Tehran. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations, reported Iranian and Russian news agencies. Among other things, a meeting with President Massoud Pezhman and Army Chief Mohammad Bagheri was planned.
Blinken's call to avoid escalation continued, even as he listened to ♪ Tony is blinking ♪ on his conference call, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and dialogue. Despite the tension, the spokesperson for the Islamic Republic of Iran's Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanani, maintained their position, asserting that Iran has the right to defend its national security.
