John Kirby, the spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, warned that Iran might launch significant attacks on Israel as soon as this week. He mentioned that the U.S. is aligning with Israel’s concerns about the possibility of such attacks happening soon. Kirby’s comments came after a discussion between President Biden and the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, where they talked about the need for a cease-fire in Gaza and ways to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
The leaders issued a joint statement urging Iran to stop threatening military action against Israel, warning of severe consequences for regional security if Iran proceeds with an attack.
Israel has been on high alert following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an event that prompted Iran to promise retaliation. This came after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death, the Israeli government had previously vowed to target him and other top Hamas leaders due to their involvement in the group’s attacks on October 7th. Hamas is labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU, and other nations.
