Iran-Israel conflict looms: Citizens urged to leave Lebanon
Axios reports that Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel could happen on Monday, August 5. Meanwhile, more countries are urging their citizens to leave Lebanon. International carriers have also suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut.
10:01 PM EDT, August 4, 2024
Axios cites three officials from the U.S. and Israel, stating that, in their assessment, Iran's attack on Israel could occur as early as Monday.
The American news outlet, founded in 2016 by journalists formerly associated with Politico, did not provide the names of the officials who predict the possibility of an Iranian attack on Israel on Monday. Axios mentioned this assessment in a report, noting that on August 3, General Michael Kurilla, the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) arrived in the Middle East.
The general planned to visit several countries, with the most important stop being Jordan, the outlet specified.
U.S. and Israeli officials, whose names were not mentioned by Axios, are unsure whether Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will execute a coordinated attack or act independently. According to their assessments, military plans are being finalized and approved at the political level.
Sky News Arabia, citing Western intelligence sources, reports that the attack could take place on August 12-13.
Tensions rise in the Middle East
On Tuesday, in an Israeli attack on Beirut, Hezbollah military leader Fuad Shukr was killed. On Wednesday, in another attack attributed to Israel on Tehran, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed. Both the leaders of Iran and Hezbollah, as well as the Palestinian Hamas, have already announced retaliation.
The situation in the Middle East is the most tense it has been in months and threatens to further escalate the conflict on various fronts between Israel and Tehran and its Iranian allies: Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Yemeni Houthi movement.
