On Friday, the Pentagon announced plans to deploy additional fighter jets and naval warships to the Middle East.
This decision is part of the US’s response to potential retaliatory actions from Iran and its allies following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The recent killings of Haniyeh on Wednesday and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut the night before have spurred fears of a broader regional conflict, leading major airlines such as Lufthansa, Delta, and Air India to suspend flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut.
In light of the escalating situation, France has advised its citizens to leave Iran and Cyprus and has prepared contingency plans for a large-scale evacuation if the conflict expands further.
France had previously assisted in evacuating tens of thousands during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
In other developments, mourners gathered in Doha on Friday to hold funeral prayers for Ismail Haniyeh. His body and that of his bodyguard were draped in Palestinian flags as senior Hamas leaders in Qatar paid their respects.
Additionally, Israel’s foreign ministry reprimanded Turkey after its embassy in Tel Aviv lowered its flag to half-mast in honor of Haniyeh, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemning the gesture and stating that Israel would not tolerate such mourning for Haniyeh.
Poland has updated its travel advisories, warning citizens against traveling to Lebanon, Israel, and Iran due to the ongoing conflict. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has declared that the group’s conflict with Israel has entered a “new phase” following the assassinations.
In a televised address at Shukr’s funeral, Nasrallah vowed retaliation. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden commented that the assassination of Haniyeh complicates efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, following a direct conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Iran’s intelligence minister has claimed that the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was carried out with the approval of Washington. Ismail Khatib made this assertion in a condolence message issued on Friday in response to Haniyeh’s death.