August 12th 2024.
According to the latest reports from the Israel Defence Forces, a barrage of rockets was launched from Lebanon on Sunday evening. Thankfully, most of them landed in open areas and there were no reported injuries. In a statement, the IDF explained that around 30 projectiles were detected crossing from Lebanon towards the Kabri area after sirens were heard in the northern coastal city of Nahariya at around 2am.
Earlier on Sunday, the IDF had announced that their instructions to the public remained unchanged, despite the possibility of a retaliatory attack from Iranian forces following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. "We are constantly monitoring our enemies and the situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran and Hezbollah," said IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari. "Our forces are prepared and on high alert. If there are any changes to our instructions, we will communicate them through official channels."
According to CNN Political and Foreign Policy Analyst Barak Ravid, Israeli intelligence has assessed that Iranian forces could be planning an attack in the coming days, even before the August 15 deadline for a hostage deal. However, a source familiar with the situation revealed that the internal debate in Iran is ongoing, and there is a possibility that their decision-making may change.
Ravid also reported that Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant had a conversation with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, during which he shared information about Iranian military preparations. "Our sources indicate that Iran is gearing up for a large-scale attack," said the source. This heightened threat comes as planned ceasefire talks are scheduled to take place this week, with concerns about a potential attack from Iran and its ally, Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, leaders from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have announced that they may present a "final bridging proposal" this week to urge Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that they will be sending a delegation to the talks. According to an Israeli source, Egyptian and Qatari mediators have conveyed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is in favor of a ceasefire agreement.
In response, Hamas has stated that they have requested for mediators to implement a ceasefire plan based on previous discussions, including those proposed by US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council in July. As we await the outcome of the ceasefire talks, the threat of an attack from Iran and Hezbollah still looms over the region. The situation remains fluid, and it is possible that there may be changes in the coming days.
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