Iran's feared attack on Israel: Diplomats struggle for de-escalation
According to Axios, Blinken urged his G7 counterparts to exert diplomatic pressure on Tehran, Hezbollah, and Israel to "maintain the utmost restraint". Following a video conference on Sunday, the G7 foreign ministers called on the involved parties to "refrain from any initiative that could hinder the path of dialogue and moderation and encourage a new escalation".
The German government also called on all actors to avoid escalation once again. Germany is "in contact with partners in the region on all levels", said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office.
Iran insisted on its "right" to "punish" Israel for the killing of Haj Qasem Soleimani in Tehran. Iran considers it its "inalienable right to defend its national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity", said Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani.
Israel has not commented on the killing of Soleimani. However, Iran holds Israel responsible, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatening "harsh retribution". Additionally, Israel killed Fuad Shukr, the top commander of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, just hours before Soleimani's assassination. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah then announced "a new phase of all resistance fronts" against Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his country's determination to confront Iran and its proxies "on all fronts". "Anyone who harms our citizens or our land will pay a very heavy price", he warned on Sunday.
In light of the threat, Israel's closest ally, the US, has bolstered its military presence in the region. The Pentagon announced the deployment of additional warships and fighter jets to protect US forces and defend Israel.
The White House stated that US President Joe Biden would meet with his national security team on Monday to discuss developments in the Middle East. Biden had previously assured Israel of Washington's support "against all threats from Iran".
At the same time, the US continues to pursue diplomatic de-escalation efforts. In an interview with ABC News, deputy national security advisor Jon Finer said the US would "do everything to ensure the situation doesn't boil over". As part of these efforts, it is "urgent" to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and prisoner release in the Gaza Strip.
In the midst of these diplomatic efforts, Blinken also spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi traveled to Tehran - the first such visit in decades.
In April, Iran directly targeted Israel from its territory for the first time, launching more than 300 rockets and drones. Iran does not recognize Israel's right to exist and supports Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as Islamic militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Pro-Iranian militias are also active in Iraq and Syria.
Since the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th and the ensuing war in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has been nearly daily attacking Israel's north. In the early hours of Monday, air raid sirens sounded again in Upper Galilee in northern Israel. Earlier, the Israeli army stated that it had "identified numerous suspicious aerial targets from Lebanon". Additionally, according to army reports, around 15 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards the south of the country, most of which were intercepted.
As reported by the army, a new warning system for the civilian population has been implemented in Israel. Warnings are now sent to mobile phones in the affected region. However, according to army spokesman Daniel Hagari, there is "no change" in civil defense preparations at this time.
The German government, being in contact with partners in the region on all levels, also urges Germany and other actors to avoid escalation, aligning with its call for restraint. Iran's aggressive actions towards Israel, including the killing of Haj Qasem Soleimani and the recent rocket attacks from Gaza, have gained attention from Germany.
