He French Ministry of Foreign Affairs This Friday, it recommended its citizens avoid trips to Israel, Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories due to “the risk of military escalation” in that area of Middle East.
In the same notice, the Government advises that the families of diplomats stationed in France return to France. Tehran and prohibits French public agents from making official visits to the aforementioned countries.
The Middle East region, where the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas militia – which has allies in neighboring countries such as Lebanon – continues, is once again at risk of a military escalation since Iran threatened last Wednesday Tel Aviv.
Tehran promised to “punish” the Jewish state for the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed 16 people, seven of them members of the Revolutionary Guardsamong them the leader of its Quds Force branch for Syria and Lebanon, General Mohamed Reza Zahedi.
The situation in Gaza
Israeli forces launched new bombings in the Gaza StripThe Palestinian movement Hamas indicated this Friday, at a time of high tension after Iran threatened retaliation following the attack on its consulate in Syria, attributed to Israel.
The tenacious Israeli offensive in response to the Hamas attack of October 7 continues without giving respite to Gazasubjected to a siege that has the population on the brink of famine, according to the UN.
For their part, Qatar, Egypt and the United States, which are mediating to achieve a truce, are awaiting the response of Israel and Hamas to their latest proposal for a cessation of fighting that also allows the release of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza.
Hamas reported that dozens of houses and residential buildings were attacked with explosives in the Nuseirat refugee camp and that dozens of bombings hit Al Zahra, Al Mughraqa and Al Maghazi, in the center of the Gaza Strip.
In the Al Daraj neighborhood, 25 people were killed in a bombing that hit a family's home.
“The situation is terrible and continues to get worse. The bombing has not stopped and continues,” said Imad Abu Shawish, 39.
In addition to the conflict in Gaza, concerns are growing about a possible regional escalation after Iran accused Israel of being responsible for the bombing of its consulate in the Syrian capital on April 1, which left seven Revolutionary Guards dead. two of them generals.
USA warned of the danger of an attack by Iran or its related groups and General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of the United States Central Command for the Middle East (Centcom), traveled to Israel.
Washington restricted the movement of its personnel in Israel due to the threat and France recommended this Friday that its citizens refrain from traveling to Iran. Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. For its part, the German airline Lufthansa suspended its flights to and from Tehran.
Threat escalation
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke Thursday with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin about preparing for an Iranian attack on Israel.
“If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack Iran,” warned Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, reiterated his “strong” support for Israel, despite the tensions between the Democratic president and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, due to their differences over management of the war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran – archenemy of Israel and ally of Hamas – reiterated on Wednesday that Israel “will be punished.”
The White House warned Iran that it should refrain from attacking Israel and Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenasked his counterparts from China, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia to try to dissuade Tehran.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the United States to play a “constructive” role in Middle EastBeijing reported after Wang's conversation with Blinken.
But Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian defended the “need” for Tehran to respond after the bombing of its consulate, in talks with his counterparts from Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom.
*With AFP and Efe
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