U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed foreign ministers of the G7 countries that an attack by Iran and Hezbollah on Israel may start on Monday, according to Axios news site. The report cited unnamed sources stating that "Blinken told his G7 counterparts that the Iran-Hezbollah attack on Israel could begin today."
The sources indicated to Axios that Blinken said, "The United States believes that Iran and Hezbollah will seek revenge, but it is still unclear what form that retaliation will take." Meanwhile, Blinken clarified that the U.S. does not know the precise timing of a potential attack, but affirmed it could begin within the next 24-48 hours.
Axios noted that Blinken informed G7 foreign ministers that the increase in U.S. forces in the region is aimed at "purely defensive purposes." Earlier, the Pentagon announced that amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the U.S. is adjusting its troop deployments in the area, sending a new aircraft carrier group and will also deploy additional missile defense systems there.
Washington is concerned this time that Iran may not provide a warning before the anticipated attack on Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, and that the regional coalition may not be able to replicate its success as it did last April. General Michael Kurilla, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, arrived in the region on Saturday at a sensitive time as the U.S. and Israel prepare for the possibility of an Iranian retaliatory attack.
