Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an urgent meeting on Sunday night with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with military and intelligence leaders. Before the meeting, Netanyahu emphasized, “Iran and its allies are trying to encircle us with terrorism. We are committed to fighting back on every front, both near and far. Those who threaten us will face severe consequences.”
On the same day, Gallant spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Regional Tensions: Other nations in the region are preparing for potential escalation. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi traveled to Tehran on Sunday for the first time in nearly a decade. Jordan is worried about potential Iranian missile or drone attacks passing through its airspace. During an April 13 attack, Jordan intercepted Iranian drones aimed at Israel and allowed U.S. and Israeli fighter jets to use its airspace to counteract Iranian threats.
Safadi met with acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri and delivered a message from King Abdullah II to the Iranian president. After the meeting, Safadi stated, “I didn’t come to deliver or receive messages from Israel. My visit was to express concerns about escalating regional tensions.”
U.S. Diplomatic Efforts: Secretary of State Tony Blinken informed G7 counterparts on Sunday that Iran and Hezbollah might launch an attack on Israel as early as Monday. Blinken held a conference call to coordinate with U.S. allies and apply diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah to limit their retaliation and avoid a full-scale war.
Current Situation: Iran and Hezbollah have pledged to retaliate against Israel for the recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. While the U.S. anticipates retaliation from both Iran and Hezbollah, the exact nature and timing of their responses remain unclear. Blinken emphasized efforts to limit the impact of their strikes and manage Israeli responses.
Military Preparations:Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday to finalize preparations with the Israel Defense Forces for a potential Iranian and Hezbollah attack.
G7 Statement: The G7 foreign ministers expressed deep concern about the escalating tensions in the Middle East and urged all parties to avoid further violence and work towards de-escalation. They emphasized that further escalation would not benefit any nation in the region.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to comment on the ongoing situation.