As the region braces for a potential wave of new attacks from Tehran and its allies on Israel, Israeli media outlets have leaked information regarding the timing and potential nature of such military actions. Iran has vowed to punish Israel for the assassination of the head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, although Tel Aviv has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the operation, which has raised concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict between Israel and the group in Gaza into a broader regional conflict in the Middle East. These fears have been heightened by the death of Hezbollah military leader Fouad Shukr in an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut just hours before Haniyeh's assassination.
The Israeli newspaper "Maariv" reported that "U.S. and Israeli estimates suggest that Hezbollah is likely to carry out its attack within the next 24 hours." It added that these estimates indicate that Hezbollah might attack Israel first, followed by Iran doing the same. For its part, "Yediot Ahronot" stated that Hezbollah is determined to carry out an attack against Israel in the coming days. The newspaper clarified that Hezbollah will not alter its plans due to the round of negotiations scheduled for next Thursday regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
