US says Iran could attack Israel 'this week'
2024-08-13
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A senior US official said on August 12 local time that Iran may launch a "major" attack on Israel "within this week". The Iranian government stated that Iran has the right to respond to "aggressors."
The United States and Israel say Iran may launch an attack, and Iran says it has the right to respond
△ John Kirby (data map)
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator at the U.S. National Security Council, said Israel believes that "there is an increasing possibility that Iran and its proxies will launch attacks in the coming days." The United States has the same concerns and is coordinating with Israel and other regional partners, but is currently unable to determine the specific circumstances of the attack.
△ Iranian President Masoud Pezerhiyan (data map)
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency of Iran on the 12th, Iranian President Masoud Pezhechyan said in a phone call with German Chancellor Scholz that Iran believes it has the right to respond to "aggressors" in accordance with international rules. Pezhechyan said that the Israeli government continues to carry out "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and "terrorist acts" in other countries, which violates international law and poses a serious challenge to the security of the West Asia region and global peace. Scholz said that achieving peace and security in the West Asia region is a priority for Germany's policy in the region, and the Gaza conflict should end immediately.
IDF spokesman Hagari issued a statement that evening, saying that the IDF is currently paying close attention to developments in the Middle East, especially the actions of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran. The IDF has made the highest level of offensive and defensive preparations to deal with the attacks. At the same time, the IDF has stepped up patrols over Lebanon. Hagari also said that up to now, the IDF rear command's guidelines for the public have not changed.
Many countries call for easing tensions in the Middle East
△On the 12th, the Elysee Palace, the French presidential palace, issued a "Joint Statement by the Leaders of France, the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy on the Middle East Issue"
The French presidential palace, the Elysee Palace, issued a "Joint Statement on the Middle East Issue by the Leaders of France, the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy" on the 12th. The statement said that the leaders of the five countries discussed the situation in the Middle East and fully supported the efforts to ease tensions, achieve a ceasefire and release detained persons. In addition, the statement expressed support for Israel and called on Iran to abandon its continued threat of military attacks on Israel. The leaders of the five countries discussed the serious consequences for regional security if such an attack occurred.
The US strengthens its military deployment in the Middle East and Iran subsequently issues a warning
△"Georgia" cruise missile nuclear submarine (data map)
U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Ryder issued a statement on the 11th saying that Defense Secretary Austin had a phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Galant on the same day. Austin has ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia cruise missile nuclear submarine to the Middle East and ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to speed up to the region. Austin reiterated to Galant that the U.S. side will "take all possible measures to defend Israel" and said that the U.S. military's increased deployment in the Middle East is "due to escalating tensions in the region."
The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fleet warned the United States on the 12th that Iranian ships have the ability to reach the closest point to the U.S. Navy.
Haji Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Fleet, said on the 12th that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Fleet is not only a coastal force, but also has the ability to carry various heavy equipment and radar equipment, enabling it to maintain combat capabilities in international waters. Iranian ships had previously crossed the equator and entered the mission area of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, successfully returning after completing a 39-day sailing mission. Haji Qassem Soleimani warned the US Navy that the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Fleet has the ability to reach the closest place to the US Navy in international waters. Haji Qassem Soleimani also said that Iran is not trying to escalate any tensions, but the United States is constantly increasing its military deployment to the Middle East.
Deaths of Hamas leaders and senior Hezbollah officials heighten regional tensions
△On August 1, Iranian people attended the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran (Source: AFP)
On July 31, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Political Bureau of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), was assassinated in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Both Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of the assassination, but Israel has neither admitted nor denied it.
The day before Haniya was assassinated, a senior military commander of Hezbollah in Lebanon was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon have vowed to take strong revenge on Israel.
