Despite the loss of his three kids in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza earlier this week, Hamas' political head, Ismail Haniyeh, said efforts to establish a cease-fire and release remaining hostages remain deadlocked.
Iran's reprisal might be direct or through one of the many Tehran-backed militias that have attacked Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen in recent months.
Tehran has avoided confrontation with Israel and Washington. According to IRNA, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that “legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor” was needed after the consulate strike, accusing Israel of targeting diplomatic premises in violation of international law.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, had accelerated his trip to Israel to meet with Israeli military authorities and discuss “current security threats.”
President Joe Biden warned Wednesday that Iran was threatening a “significant attack on Israel,” and that the U.S. commitment to Israel's security against Iran and its proxies was “ironclad” despite mounting criticism of its ally's Gaza operations.
The White House said Thursday that it informed Iran that it was not involved in the Damascus strike and cautioned Iran not to use it as a pretext to escalate in the region or attack U.S. installations or personnel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone's interest” and recommends that Iran not escalate.
“We have also engaged with European allies and partners over the past few days and urged them as well to send a clear message to Iran that escalation is not in Iran's, the region's, or the world's interest,” spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday.
France advised its residents Friday to “imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.” The only Western airlines flying into Tehran, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, suspended flights.
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