The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has ordered a nuclearpowered guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area. The US and other allies continue to push for Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire agreement over the war in Gaza that could help calm soaring tensions in the region.
Israel has been braced for a major attack since last month when a missile killed 12 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel responded by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. A day after that operation, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, drawing Iranian vows of retaliation against Israel.
The US has been beefing up its presence in the region. Yesterday, Israel’s air force suspended travel abroad for its service personnel, a military spokesperson said, adding that safety instructions from the military for the general public remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, Tehran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said Iran has the “right to an appropriate and deterrent response” against Israel to ensure regional stability, in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, according to state media.
Earlier, the leaders of France, Germany and Britain called on Iran and its allies to refrain from any retaliatory attacks that would further escalate regional tensions.
In a joint statement released yesterday, they endorsed the latest push by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the 10-month-old Israel-Hamas war. The mediators have spent months trying to get the sides to agree to a three-phase plan in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages captured in a 7 October attack in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, as well as Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
This story is from the August 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Stop buying clothes now!
As fashion campaigners demand 'degrowth' for an industry responsible for 10 per cent of global pollution, Helen Coffey talks to designers and activists about how, with 100 billion garments made every year, we risk shopping till we drop
The inspiration at heart of Slot and Guardiola's rivalry
Liverpool and Man City bosses set to meet for the first time
Has Bethell's Test cricket baptism come too soon?
Jacob Bethell, 21, has been thrust into England side based on potential. Could the risk backfire, asks Cameron Ponsonby
Resurgent Arsenal thrash Hammers in giddy goal fest
Arsenal plundered another hatful of goals at West Ham as they climbed up to second in the Premier League with a frenetic 5-2 victory.
Defensive Lionesses cancel USA in tactical stalemate
Another night of learning for England and Sarina Wiegman, even if the only fireworks produced from the visit of Emma Hayes and the United States were those in the pre-match light show at Wembley.
Grandmother lost savings and her business after being wrongly charged with fraud
Krista Brown receives 'unreserved' apology after seven-year ordeal at hands of Crown Prosecution Service and HMRC
Indian women are being 'controlled' by forest drones
Researchers say wildlife cameras are used to harass them
Rebels seize control of Aleppo in blow to Assad
Thousands of opposition forces took control of Syria’s second city Aleppo and its airport in a shock assault that marked their largest advance and the biggest challenge facing Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in years.
Ukraine could use a Trump peace deal to buy some time
After Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders repeated constantly that they would stand behind Kyiv \"as long as it takes\", first as Ukraine struck back, then as Russia counterattacked.
Zelensky's plan for peace a 'major concession' to Putin
UK's former ambassador to Russia praises Ukraine president
