Calls for foreign nationals to leave Lebanon are increasing amid fears of a military escalation between Iran and its allies on the one hand and Israel on the other, which the international community is trying to prevent. The Lebanese Health Ministry said on Sunday night that an “Israeli enemy strike” had killed two people in Houla, in the south of the country.
Iran, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the death last Wednesday of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in his Tehran residence. The day before, Israel had claimed responsibility for a strike that killed the Lebanese military leader of the movement, Fouad Shokr, near Beirut.
Key information to remember
⇒ Iran says it has ‘legal right’ to punish Israel after Hamas leader’s death
⇒ Israeli army ready to react “quickly or attack”
⇒ Emmanuel Macron and Abdallah II want to avoid an escalation at “all costs”
Iran says it has ‘legal right’ to punish Israel after Hamas leader’s death
Iran said Monday it had the “legal right” to punish its arch-enemy Israel for the alleged assassination in Tehran of Palestinian Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
“We consider our right to defend our national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity as an indisputable right,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said, insisting that “Iran has the legal right to punish” Israel, during his weekly press conference on Monday.
Emmanuel Macron and Abdallah II want to avoid an escalation at “all costs”
As Iran and its allies await a response to the assassinations of the leader of Hamas and the military chief of Lebanese Hezbollah, diplomatic efforts are intensifying. French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordanian King Abdullah II notably called on Sunday to avoid an escalation “at all costs”.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, whose country is a key partner of Washington, met in Tehran with his counterpart and the president, Massoud Pezeshkian.
Strikes in southern Lebanon
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported on Sunday night that an “Israeli enemy strike” had killed two people in Houla, in the south of the country. Earlier, the Israeli army announced that it had “identified a Hezbollah terrorist entering a military structure” in this area, and had “struck” it. Hezbollah reported the death of two of its fighters, without specifying where they were killed.
On the Israeli side, sirens sounded again early Monday in Upper Galilee, due to an air attack “from Lebanon”, the army said, reporting two soldiers injured.
Israeli army ready to react ‘quickly or attack’
Opposite, the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant affirmed Sunday that the army was “ready to react quickly or to attack.”
But “for now,” the internal defense policy “has not changed,” army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in response to “rumors” about the country being placed on alert.
American warships and fighter jets
The United States has beefed up its military presence there with more warships and fighter jets. “At the same time, we are working to de-escalate the situation diplomatically,” said Jon Finer, deputy national security adviser.
G7 expresses deep concern
Meeting via videoconference, the G7 foreign ministers expressed their “strong concern” about the situation in the Middle East, according to Italian diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed in a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Chia al-Soudani “the importance for all parties to take steps” to calm the situation, according to his spokesperson.
Flights suspended
Several airlines have suspended flights to Beirut, including Germany’s Lufthansa until August 12, and Air France and Transavia until Tuesday inclusive. Kuwait Airways will halt its rotations starting Monday, and Qatar Airways has cancelled its night flights to Beirut until Monday. Lufthansa has also suspended flights to Tel Aviv until August 8. At Beirut airport, there are long queues and uncertainty for passengers.
Deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza
At the same time, the Israeli army continues its offensive against the Palestinian territory of Gaza, which has been ravaged and threatened by famine according to the UN. On Saturday, the Civil Defense announced that an Israeli strike on two schools in Gaza City (north) sheltering displaced people had left at least 30 dead, “mainly women and children”. The Israeli army confirmed having struck this school complex, which it said housed a Hamas command center.
Before the strike on the Gaza City school complex, the Civil Defense and the Red Crescent had reported 16 Palestinians killed by Israeli bombings in Jabalia (north) and Deir al-Balah (center). Hamas, which took power in Gaza in 2007, is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union.