US state secretary warns G7 of potential Iran-Hezbollah strike on Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries that Iran and the Shiite organization Hezbollah may launch an attack on Israel within the next 24 hours.

Blinken initiated a phone call with his G7 counterparts in an attempt to exert diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah to minimise the impact of their anticipated response to the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

During the conversation, the US state secretary emphasised that mitigating the potential attack's consequences would be the best way to prevent a full-scale war in the region.

As reported, Blinken is convinced that Iran and Hezbollah will strike at the Jewish state, although the specifics of this action remain unknown.

He noted that the United States is making efforts to limit this attack and subsequently ease Israel’s possible response to it.

Blinken also expressed disappointment over the impact the Middle Eastern conflict's escalation has had on ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip.

During the conversation, he mentioned that the US administration had felt, before Haniyeh's assassination, that the parties were closer than ever to reaching an agreement.