- The killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this week, and Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut just hours after Israel killed him, has grown louder calls for revenge.
- Hezbollah has been in an almost daily cross-border exchange of fire with Israeli forces since October, saying it is acting in support of Hamas. The group announced it had fired dozens of Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli settlement of Beit Hillel, while Iran said it expected Hezbollah to strike deep inside Israel and no longer confine itself to military targets.
- The US, Britain and France told their citizens to leave Lebanon – where the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement is based – and airlines cancelled flights. Canada warned citizens to avoid travelling to Israel, saying regional armed conflict threatens security.
- Indian citizens in Israel have been asked to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols following the escalation of tensions in the region. This advice for Indian citizens in Israel comes a day after the Indian Embassy in Beirut strictly advised Indian citizens not to travel to Lebanon until further notice. It has also advised them to leave Lebanon.
- The Pentagon said it was increasing its military presence in the Middle East to protect US personnel and defend Israel.
- Haniyeh was Hamas’s lead negotiator in efforts to end the war. His killing has raised questions about the ongoing viability of efforts by Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators to broker a ceasefire and exchange hostages and prisoners.
- Hamas said it had begun a “broad consultation process” to choose a new leader, three days after Haniyeh’s killing.
- US President Joe Biden expressed hope that Iran would back down despite Tehran threatening to take revenge for the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Biden said he was “very concerned” about rising tensions in the region, adding that Haniyeh’s killing “has not helped” the situation.
- Meanwhile, Israel has warned its adversaries that they will “pay a very heavy price” for any “aggression.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, “Israel is carrying out a very high level of preparation for any situation, whether defensive or offensive.”
- The war in Gaza has caused widespread destruction and displaced almost the entire population of the territory, where the public health situation “continues to deteriorate”, the United Nations said on Friday.
