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[Global Times special correspondent in Egypt Huang Peizhao, Global Times special correspondent Aoki Yuwen] "Iran will attack Israel as early as Monday (August 5)" - Axios News Network reported the news on the 4th, citing three US and Israeli officials.

The media also said that the commander of the US Central Command in charge of the Middle East, Kulila, visited the Middle East on the 3rd to mobilize US allies in the region to protect Israel from Iranian attacks. Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi visited Iran on the 4th to discuss the escalation of the regional security situation. "An uneasy calm is hanging over Israel," the New York Times said, saying that the country is preparing to deal with the "multi-faceted retaliation" triggered by the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau leader Haniyeh and Hezbollah senior military commander Shukur.

Against the backdrop of extremely tense situation in the Middle East, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on the 2nd that it would dispatch the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier battle group to the Middle East to replace the USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier battle group currently in the Gulf of Oman; U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin ordered the dispatch of additional cruisers and destroyers capable of destroying ballistic missiles to the Middle East and Europe.Destroyer, and sent a newfighterU.S. officials said they hoped the announcement would help "deter Iran and influence its military plans."

It is still unknown whether this goal can be achieved. In recent days, calls for "revenge" have dominated the Iranian media.

Qatar's Al Jazeera said Iran is seeking to restore deterrence against Israel without triggering a full-scale war in the region.

As the situation worsens, the United States, Britain, France and other countries have called on their citizens in Iran and Lebanon to "leave as soon as possible."

Lebanon's Hezbollah announced that it had fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel in the early hours of the 4th. Israel said its "Iron Dome" air defense system intercepted these rockets. (Visual China)

Iranian media demands "revenge for Haniyeh"

According to Axios News Network, Kurila is visiting Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries, and he will try to mobilize regional allies to defend Israel from Iranian attacks, just like in April this year. In April this year, Israel launched a missile attack on the consular building of the Iranian Embassy in Syria, killing several Iranian commanders and military advisers in Syria. After that, Iran launched dozens of missiles and drones at Israeli targets. This was considered at the time to be one of the largest attacks launched by Iran in the Middle East in the past five years, and it was also the first time that Iran directly attacked Israel from its own land. According to reports, Jordan played an important role in this conflict, intercepting Iranian drones that entered its territory and flew to Israel, and allowing US and Israeli fighter jets to use its airspace to intercept Iranian drones. US officials said, "I hope the same thing can happen again."

The Wall Street Journal said that the new situation is completely different from that in April. At that time, Iran notified its neighbors 72 hours in advance that it would strike Israel. But this time, Iran refused to respond to the diplomatic efforts of various countries. An Iranian diplomat said that Israel has stepped on all red lines, Iran's response will be swift and strong, and it is futile for countries to try to persuade Tehran not to escalate the situation. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran's delegation to the United Nations said that Hezbollah and Israel have always abided by certain boundaries, including limiting attacks to border areas and military targets, but this time Israel's attack on the Lebanese capital Beirut crossed the bottom line. Iran believes that Hezbollah's attacks are expected to penetrate deep into Israeli territory and are no longer limited to military targets.

Axios News Network said that the Biden administration is worried that it may be more difficult to mobilize regional allies to defend Israel this time because the assassination of Haniyeh was carried out against the backdrop of Israel's war with Hamas, which has triggered strong anti-Israel sentiment throughout the region. When President Biden was asked by reporters on the 3rd whether he thought Iran would back down, he said: "I hope so, (but) I don't know."

The Wall Street Journal said that several Arab officials revealed that these countries conveyed to Iran on behalf of Israel and the United States that if Hezbollah and Iran's counterattack was too fierce, such as attacking Tel Aviv or going deep into Israeli territory, Israel would be ready to go to war. Iran responded that they understood the risks, but Supreme Leader Khamenei faced pressure from hardliners at home to respond.

The UK-based Iran International Television said on the 4th that after Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran, the words "revenge" and "infiltration" dominated the headlines of Iranian media. Almost all hard-line media demanded "revenge for Haniyeh", while reformist media accused "infiltrators working for Israel" of launching the attack and demanded that intelligence agencies identify and punish them.

Israel 'is ready for anything'

The New York Times stated that the Pentagon announced on the 2nd that it would send an additional squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets to the Middle East, as well as an unknown number of Navy cruisers and destroyers capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, and send more land-based ballistic missile defense systems when needed. U.S. officials said that some ships already in the western Mediterranean will move eastward, closer to the coast of Israel, to provide more security.

Pentagon spokesman Singh issued a statement on the 2nd saying that Defense Secretary Austin has ordered adjustments to the US military posture to increase support for Israel and ensure that the United States is prepared for various emergencies. The New York Times said that the statement did not specify when the additional fighter jets and warships would arrive, but officials said it could take a few days, while naval reinforcements would take longer.

"Israel is preparing for war on multiple fronts," German TV One said on the 4th. In Israel, concerns about counterattacks from Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon are growing, and Israeli security forces are on high alert. Israeli TV Channel 12 said that attacks from Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon are expected to occur on "multiple fronts." In addition, other armed groups may also participate in attacks on Israel, including the Houthi armed forces in Yemen and militias in Iraq and Syria. The Israeli leadership is currently discussing possible responses to such coordinated attacks, including "entering a full-scale war."

Turkey's Anadolu Agency quoted Israel's Novaya Gazeta as saying on the 4th that after close consultations with the United States, Israeli officials believe that a joint or separate attack by Hezbollah and Iran on Israel is "inevitable", but the timing of the attack is uncertain. According to the newspaper, discussions on how Israel should respond are still ongoing, and Israeli officials have even discussed the option of "preemptive strike". Israeli ministries have been instructed to "prepare for all scenarios", including the possibility that the situation may escalate to "five fronts" and "thousands of targets across the country have been attacked, not just military targets."

In the early morning of the 4th local time, Hezbollah in Lebanon announced that it had fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel in retaliation for Israel's attack on southern Lebanon. Israel said that its "Iron Dome" air defense system intercepted most of the rockets and caused no casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said on the 4th that the country is ready to fight back severely if attacked.

According to AFP, a "terrorist" stabbed two people in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the morning of the 4th, and the attacker was subdued. Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir told reporters at the scene of the attack: "Our war is not only against Iran, but also against the streets here," "That's why we have issued more than 150,000 gun licenses to Israeli citizens."

Al Jazeera reported on the 4th that analysts said Iran and its allies will seek to restore deterrence against Israel without triggering a full-scale regional war. Branford, an expert at the Atlantic Council, a US think tank, said, "This may be a staggered action, led by Iran, and then other armed groups will launch attacks." "They may aim at a conspicuous military target."

On the evening of the 3rd local time, Hamas issued a statement saying that the organization’s leadership will conduct extensive internal consultations to determine a new leader.

The United States, Britain and France call on their citizens to leave Lebanon

"Fear of war intensifies, foreigners asked to leave Lebanon", according to AFP on the 4th, the French Foreign Ministry said on the same day that the situation in the region is "highly unstable" as Iran and its allies prepare to respond to Israel's killing. The French Foreign Ministry "urgently requests" French nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon, and French nationals already in Lebanon "should leave immediately". On the 2nd, the French Foreign Ministry called on French tourists in Iran to "leave as soon as possible", saying that the entire Iran "has been marked red on the tourist advisory map" and "strongly recommends that French nationals do not go there anyway". The French Foreign Ministry also warned that Iranian airspace and airports may be closed.

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon called on its citizens on the 3rd to purchase tickets for the nearest commercial flights and leave Lebanon as soon as possible, while those who choose to stay should "make emergency plans" and prepare for "long-term shelter in place."

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said on the 4th that the United States, Britain, Sweden, France, Italy, Canada and Jordan have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, and more and more flights have been canceled or suspended at the country's only commercial airport in Beirut. Ticket prices for some outbound flights have soared, but there are no signs of panic or people rushing to leave. British Foreign Secretary Lamy said the situation in the region "could deteriorate rapidly."