US Secretary of State Tony Blinken informed G7 counterparts on Sunday that Iran and Hezbollah might attack Israel as soon as Monday, according to three sources briefed on the call, international media reported.
Blinken organised the call to coordinate with US allies and exert last-minute diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah to minimise their retaliation. He emphasised that limiting their strikes is crucial to avoiding a full-scale war, Axios, American news website based in Arlington, Virginia, reported.
The urgency stems from Iran and Hezbollah’s vow to retaliate for the recent assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut by Israel.
Blinken highlighted the US belief that both Iran and Hezbollah would retaliate. However, unlike the April 13 Iranian attack on Israel, which involved nearly 350 drones and missiles intercepted by Israel, the U.S., and allies, Blinken noted that the form of the impending retaliation is uncertain. He mentioned that the attacks could start within 24-48 hours, potentially as early as Monday.
Blinken also stated that the U.S. is striving to break the cycle of escalation by limiting Iran and Hezbollah’s attacks and restraining the Israeli response. He urged other foreign ministers to apply diplomatic pressure on Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel to exercise maximum restraint.
