Israel Seeks Support from France and Britain for Potential Retaliatory Strike on Iran

Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, on Friday called for support from Britain and France for a retaliatory strike against Iran should the Islamic Republic attack Israel. Mr. Katz hosted David Lammy and Stéphane Séjourné, the foreign ministers of Britain and France, on the same day that threats from the Iranian government and its proxy groups against Israel were escalating. He shared a picture from the meeting on social media platform X, expressing gratitude for London's and Paris's support, stating, "I emphasized that the correct way to deter Iran and prevent war is to declare that if Iran attacks, they will stand alongside Israel not only in defense but also in attacking targets inside Iran." The Israeli Foreign Minister reminded that "[the Iranian government] is at the center of evil, and the free world must stop it before it is too late." The deadly attack on August 1 by Israel against Foad Shukr, the highest-ranking military commander of Hezbollah, and the attack attributed to Israel against Ismail Haniyeh, the former political bureau chief of Hamas, on the morning of August 2 has placed the Middle East on the brink of direct confrontation between the Iranian government and its proxy groups, especially Hezbollah, on one side and Israel and its allies on the other. Senior officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei, the leader, and Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, have threatened that these attacks will not go unanswered. In response, Israel, which has not yet claimed responsibility for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, has warned that it is prepared for any scenario and that any party that attacks the country will pay a heavy price. The Washington Post reported that Hezbollah will not initiate retaliatory operations during ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. Hezbollah announced the deaths of two of its members in an Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon. The U.S. special envoy in Lebanon stated that a ceasefire agreement must be reached now, with no excuses for delay. A former Israeli Prime Minister stated that the head of the "octopus" that is Tehran must be targeted. The U.S. has conveyed to the Iranian government that an attack on Israel is not in anyone's interest. The Israeli Defense Minister stated that they are "closely monitoring" what happens in Tehran and Beirut.