- Pressure on Israel to moderate in response to Iranian attack
Regional Partners Urge Israel to Restraint Amidst Expected Iranian Retaliation
According to a media report, partners of Israel have called for restraint in response to an anticipated attack by Iran and its allies, warning Israel not to "overreact" and risk escalating the situation into a regional war. The message from these U.S.-led partners was reported by the Israeli Kan news channel.
Currently, the Israeli military is on high alert, anticipating a retaliatory strike from Iran and its regional allies. Tehran has threatened "severe punishment" against Israel following the targeted killing of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Iranian capital last week. Iran and Hamas blame Israel for the assassination. Hours earlier, Israel killed a high-ranking Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in a air strike in Beirut. Hezbollah, a Shia militia, is one of Iran's most loyal allies.
Israel can count on the support of the U.S. and other allies in intercepting Iranian and proxy group rockets, missiles, and drones using advanced defense systems.
Avoiding Escalation in April
In mid-April, when Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel, most of the over 300 projectiles were intercepted by Israel with the help of the U.S. and other allies, preventing major escalation. A new Iranian attack is reportedly imminent.
The message to Israel from Kan was: "Think carefully before retaliating" and "The goal is not to trigger a full-scale war."
In April, Israel's response was limited, preventing further escalation. According to Kan, the U.S., UK, France, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain assisted Israel in repelling the Iranian axis attack.
Iran Moves Rocket Launchers, Conducts Military Exercises
The "Wall Street Journal" cited U.S. officials as saying they have observed Iran moving rocket launchers and conducting military exercises since the weekend, suggesting Tehran is preparing for an attack in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Russia has begun delivering modern radar systems and air defense equipment to Iran, according to a New York Times report citing two Iranian officials. This follows Iran's request for advanced air defense systems from Russia in preparation for a possible war with Israel.
Iran plans to consult with other Islamic countries about the killing of Hamas' external operations chief, Haniyeh. A urgent meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the foreign ministers' level is scheduled for Wednesday in Saudi Arabia to discuss "the crimes of the Israeli occupation," including Haniyeh's "assassination."
Five Dead in Israeli Strike in Lebanon - Possible Evacuations
In the Israel-Lebanon border region, there have been more fatalities. An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon resulted in five deaths. Search and rescue efforts are underway under rubble near the city of Nabatiya, with the health ministry reporting further casualties. Lebanese security sources stated that four Hezbollah members were killed. Israel's military claimed it targeted a Hezbollah military facility. Nabatiya is located about 10 kilometers from the Israeli border.
Nearly simultaneously, a man was severely injured and a woman lightly injured in the coastal Israeli city of Nahariya, according to media reports. Initially, Israel's army reported that several "enemy drones" had come from Lebanon, with one intercepted by Israel's missile defense system. Later, it was stated that the civilians were apparently injured by an Israeli interception missile, not a Hezbollah drone. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel have been engaged in a low-level conflict near their shared border for months.
Amid escalating tensions, the German Armed Forces are prepared for a large-scale operation to evacuate German citizens. Transport aircraft of the type A400M and soldiers are on standby at the airbase in Lower Saxony, Wunstorf, ready to deploy at short notice, as reported by the German Press Agency on Monday. The navy is also making preparations. The operation could primarily involve evacuating Germans who have remained in Lebanon despite repeated calls to leave. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on all Germans in the region to "take our travel warnings seriously" on X.
Meanwhile, at least eleven Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations in the West Bank, according to Palestinian reports. Four people were killed in Akaba in the northwest of the West Bank, the health ministry reported. The Israeli army initially made no comment on the incident.
Later, the Israeli air force reported that "armed terrorist cells" were targeted in the city of Jenin in two separate incidents. The health ministry in Ramallah reported that at least four people were killed in the attacks. Jenin is known as a stronghold of militant Palestinians. The situation in the West Bank has further deteriorated since the start of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.
The Middle East is a region of significant geopolitical tension, with Iran and its allies threatening retaliation against Israel after the targeted killings of Hamas' political leader and a Hezbollah commander. Regional partners, including the U.S., have urged Israel to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could escalate the situation into a full-scale war.
Amidst this escalation, Germany is prepared to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon, as the situation in the Middle East continues to pose serious risks to civilians and regional stability.
