The West is keeping a close eye on the Middle East. Vowing revenge, Iran and Hezbollah have accused Israel of the assassination in Tehran of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political wing. In the reformist daily Etemad, translated by International mail, Political scientist Ahmad Zeidabadi warns: “The assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran is a dangerous phenomenon and it turns out that no red line exists in the war in Gaza.” Enough to raise fears of a regional conflagration.
So some countries are preparing: suspension of Air France flights to Beirut, closure of the Swedish embassy in Lebanon or even reinforcement, by the United States, of its military presence in the area… L’Express takes stock.
Suspension of Air France and Transavia flights to Beirut
The airlines Air France and Transavia France have decided to extend the suspension of their flights to Beirut until at least August 6 inclusive “due to the security situation”, their parent company, Air France-KLM, announced this Saturday, August 3. The service to the Lebanese capital by the two companies has been suspended since July 29.
On the other hand, rotations with Tel Aviv “continue to operate normally”, a spokesperson for the Franco-Dutch airline group told AFP. “The resumption of operations will be subject to a new assessment of the situation on site”, according to the same source, while “commercial measures are in place, allowing customers with a reservation for flights to/from Beirut scheduled before August 11, 2024 inclusive to postpone or cancel their trip free of charge”.
Lebanon: Sweden closes its embassy
Sweden preferred, this Saturday, August 3, to close its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon after having advised thousands of its citizens to leave the country due to the fear of a conflagration of the region, beyond Gaza. The decision was taken “initially for the month of August, but it could be extended depending on the security situation,” he added, specifying that the ministry was following “closely the evolution of the situation.”
“We are at a tipping point, and the possibility of a regional explosion is real. Our only objective, as Lebanese, must be to avoid it, whatever the cost,” says journalist Michel Helou in a column in The Orient-The Day. From the beginning, Israel and Hezbollah have insisted that they do not want a wider war, but as each side tests the other’s limits, the risk grows that the conflict will spread beyond the border areas.
Middle East: the United States will strengthen its military presence
Washington will deploy more warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to protect its troops and its Israeli ally against threats from Iran and groups such as the Palestinian Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah. “Secretary (of Defense Lloyd) Austin has ordered a change in the U.S. military posture designed to improve the protection of the United States armed forces, boost support for the defense of Israel, and ensure that the United States is prepared for a variety of contingencies,” a Pentagon spokeswoman said in a statement on Friday, August 2.
The United States has not said when the additional warplanes and ships will arrive in the Middle East, but it could be in the coming days. “The Pentagon is also preparing for the possibility that Iranian-backed groups, including the Houthis in Yemen and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, will target U.S. troops in the region as part of expected Iranian retaliation for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh,” the statement said. New York Times.
Rather than increasing their military presence in the Middle East, “the United States and its Western allies must insist on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza – and for Netanyahu to stop escalating regional attacks and inciting Iran and its allies to a devastating war,” said Mohamad Bazzi, director of the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies in the Guardian. And otherwise? “The alternative is a descent into more bloodshed and wanton destruction.
Lebanon: US embassy and London call on their nationals to leave the country
The US Embassy in Lebanon on Saturday urged its citizens to leave Lebanon on “any available flight.” Despite the suspensions and cancellations of flights to Beirut, “commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available,” the embassy said in a statement. “We encourage those who wish to leave Lebanon to book any available ticket, even if that flight does not depart immediately or follow the route of their choice.” London also urged Britons to leave Lebanon “now.”
Iran: Paris calls on French people “passing through” to leave the country “as soon as possible”
France called on French nationals passing through “who are still in Iran” to leave the country “as soon as possible” due to the “increased” risk of military escalation. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which did not specify the number of people potentially affected by this new recommendation, recalled that the entire Iranian territory is marked red on the travel advice map. “French nationals are therefore formally advised not to travel to Iran, whatever the reason,” it insisted.