The clock is ticking in fears of World War Three as the world awaits retaliation from Iran against Israel. ..Read Full Article
Western defence ships have been put on stand-by and Brits evacuated from Lebanon ahead of its next move. Leaders in London, Paris and Berlin have already issued pleas to Iran against revenge strikes over Israel’s killing of high-profile militant leaders.
Iran’s president is thought to have told Prime Minister Keir Starmer that retaliation was a “right” following the assassination of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Ceasefire talks were proposed in either Qatar or Egypt on Thursday to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas to pause the conflict and allow the safe return of Palestinians and Israeli hostages.
These talks however look set to fall through after Hamas official Ahmad Abdul Hadi said they would not be participating. Mr Abdul Hadi claimed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “deceiving and evading and wants to prolong the war”.
Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Wednesday killed at least 17 people, including five children and their parents, Palestinian health officials have said. One strike hit a family home late on Tuesday in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, which dates back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation. It killed five children, ranging in age from two to 11, and their parents, according to the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
One former western intelligence officer said: “It is likely the length of time Iran is taking indicates the retaliation will be complex and large-scale and Israel will react.” Last week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged British nationals to get out of Lebanon as Whitehall officials are working “around the clock” to keep other nationals in the Middle East safe.
A Government spokesperson on Tuesday said: “While we continue to use all diplomatic levers to push for de-escalation, our staff are working around the clock to plan for all scenarios to keep British nationals safe. Our travel advice is constantly updated to reflect the latest guidance.”
A Number 10 spokesman said the Prime Minister urged Mr Pezeshkian “to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone’s interests”. They “agreed that a constructive dialogue between the UK and Iran was in both countries’ interests”.
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