Why Is Iran Expected to Attack Israel? What to Know About the Crisis.
President Biden is expected to convene his national security team to discuss developments in the Middle East on Monday. He also is scheduled to speak Mpnday with King Abdullah II of Jordan a day after the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, traveled to Tehran for meetings with his Iranian counterpart. Jordan is a close Western ally and helped intercept Iranian missiles and drones in April during a tit-for-tat attack between Iran and Israel.
The U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, spoke on Sunday with the foreign ministers of the Group of 7 nations “to discuss the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East,” and the group “urged maximum restraint” to avoid further escalation, according to a statement by the State Department. Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, who leads the U.S. Central Command, is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday to complete coordination with the Israeli military in anticipation of a possible Iranian attack.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation will hold a meeting of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss “the continued crimes of the Israeli occupation,” including the assassination of Mr. Haniyeh, and Israel’s “aggressions” against Iran, the organization said in a statement.
How are Western governments advising their citizens in the region?
Amid fears of a broadening conflict, the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Sweden were among the countries that urged their citizens over the weekend to leave Lebanon immediately.
France also urged its citizens in Iran to leave as soon as possible and to avoid travel to Israel or Palestinian territories. Canada urged Canadians on Saturday to avoid all travel to Israel because of “the unpredictable security situation.”
Several airlines had suspended or canceled flights to and from Beirut, and many flights were sold out. International airlines including Delta, United, the Lufthansa group and Aegean Airlines have also suspended flights to and from Israel. The flight disruptions have left many traveling Israelis unable to return home.
Euan Ward contributed reporting from Beirut.
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