US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Iran and Hezbollah might launch an attack on Israel as soon as Monday. In response, the Times of Israel reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is considering a preemptive strike on Iran to avoid a direct attack on Israeli soil.
Netanyahu has reportedly held a high-level meeting with top intelligence and military officials, including Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, along with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been threatening to escalate its attacks beyond military targets into Israeli territory. This comes after Israel’s recent assassination of a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in a strike that also killed five civilians in Beirut. Additionally, tensions have risen due to the alleged assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which Israel has not confirmed.
The situation is tense, with Hezbollah and Israeli forces clashing almost daily. The last major conflict between them was in 2006, which saw heavy Israeli bombardment of Lebanon. The ongoing violence has led several countries, including India, to advise their citizens to leave Lebanon while flights are still available.
In light of these developments, Blinken has organized a conference call with G7 foreign ministers to discuss ways to de-escalate the situation.