The US is deploying more military forces in the Middle East for defense to cool tensions in the region, Reuters quoted information from a senior White House official on August 4, local time.
Tensions in the Middle East increased after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh - leader of the Hamas force on July 31, one day after an Israeli airstrike on Beirut killed Fuad Shukr - a senior military commander of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both groups are backed by Iran.
Iran and Hamas accused Israel of assassinating Mr. Haniyeh in the capital Tehran, and along with Hezbollah, vowed revenge.
US news agency Axios said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with his counterparts from G7 countries that Iran and Hezbollah could begin attacking Israel as early as August 5. However, Secretary of State Blinken said it was unclear how Iran and Hezbollah would attack and the exact timing of the attack was unknown.
The Pentagon announced on August 2 the deployment of additional US Navy fighter aircraft and warships to the Middle East.
"The common goal is to cool down the region, prevent and defend against attacks while avoiding conflict in the region" - Jonathan Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor of the White House shared on the program " Face the Nation" by CBS.
Mr. Finer added that the US and Israel are preparing for every possibility, especially after Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory with drones and missiles in April this year. in response to Israel's attack on Iran's diplomatic facility in Damascus, Syria, killing 7 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers.
In a call with his Israeli counterpart, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated US support for Israel's security and "the right to self-defense against threats from Iran, Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Houthis and terrorist groups". another Iran-backed terrorist group".
US Secretary of State Blinken spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on August 4, emphasizing "the importance of all parties taking steps to ease tensions in the region, avoid further escalation and promote stability" - US State Department information.
Mr. Haniyeh's assassination was one of a series of killings of senior Hamas figures. Hamas said it had begun a "wide consultation process" to choose a new leader to replace Mr. Haniyeh - a figure considered the international diplomatic face of the group.
The United States and international partners including France, Britain, Italy and Egypt have continued diplomatic contacts to prevent further escalation in the region. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi arrived in Iran on August 4 to discuss developments in the region with his Iranian counterpart.
Meanwhile, violence continued on August 4 in the Palestinian territories. At least 25 Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting two schools housing displaced people near Gaza City . Another airstrike hit a tent inside a hospital complex in central Gaza, killing at least five people.
