US warns Iran could launch strike on Israel this week | BBC News

Summary

UK Prime Minister K Dama has urged Iran to avoid attacking Israel amid rising tensions in the Middle East. A significant diplomatic effort is underway to prevent escalation, with the White House warning of a potential Iranian attack on Israel. The US is deploying military assets to the region in support of Israel. Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to avenge the recent killings of Hamas leader Ismael Haniya and a top Hezbollah commander. Amidst the crisis, humanitarian conditions in Gaza are deteriorating, with evacuation orders affecting thousands and straining aid efforts.

Takeaways

• 🇬🇧 UK Prime Minister K has urged Iran not to attack Israel, highlighting a diplomatic effort to prevent regional escalation.
• 📞 The call between the UK Prime Minister and the Iranian President is a rare occurrence, with the last one happening in 2021, indicating the gravity of the situation.
• ⚠️ The White House warns of a potential significant attack by Iran on Israel within the week, prompting a military response with the deployment of an aircraft carrier and missile submarine.
• 🔫 Iran and Hezbollah have pledged to avenge the deaths of Hamas leader Ismael Haniya and a top Hezbollah commander, increasing tensions.
• 🛑 Top US diplomat Anthony Lincoln is set to visit the Middle East to further diplomatic efforts aimed at deescalation.
• 🗣️ Iranian President Masud Bashan responded to the UK Prime Minister, arguing that retaliation for the assassination in Iran is necessary to stop crime and aggression.
• 🤝 Western countries are coordinating a diplomatic push to deescalate tensions, despite Iran's strong words against their support for Israel.
• 🏥 On-the-ground conditions in Han Yunis are dire, with increasing evacuation orders and a shrinking humanitarian zone.
• 🚨 Evacuation orders have led to displacement of around 70,000 to 120,000 people, exacerbating the already dense population and affecting sanitary conditions and mental health.
• 🏢 Aid and supplies are facing shortages and challenges due to the security situation in Gaza, with aid workers under immense pressure to ration resources.
• 🛌 Medical aid is being compromised, with strategies such as reducing dressing changes to cope with the shortage of supplies.

Q & A

What is the primary concern expressed by UK Prime Minister K Dama in his phone call with the Iranian president?

The primary concern is for Iran to refrain from attacking Israel and to prevent any escalation in the region.

What actions is the White House taking in response to the potential threat from Iran?

The White House is rushing an aircraft carrier strike group and a guided missile submarine to the region as a show of support for Israel.

What was the reason for Iran and Hezbollah's vow to avenge the recent killings?

They are responding to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismael Hania and a top Hezbollah Commander.

Who is the top US Diplomat scheduled to travel to the Middle East, and when is this trip planned?

Top US Diplomat Anthony Lincoln is scheduled to travel to the Middle East on Tuesday.

What was the nature of the phone call between the UK Prime Minister and the Iranian President?

It was a rare phone call, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the risk of miscalculation, with the UK Prime Minister urging for consideration.

What was the Iranian President's response to the UK Prime Minister's comments?

The Iranian President, Masud Bashan, stated that Iran sees a response to the assassination as a solution to stopping crime and aggression and criticized the support of some Western countries for Israel as irresponsible.

What concerns are there regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon in the context of the current tensions?

There are concerns that Hezbollah, the powerful militia backed by Iran, could be planning a widescale attack on Israel in response to the assassination of a senior Hezbollah Commander in Beirut.

What is the current situation on the ground in Han Yunis according to the Medicines Frontier Project Coordinator?

The conditions in Han Yunis are quite bad, with increasing evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces, which are affecting the humanitarian zone and making it difficult to provide aid and supplies.

How are the evacuation orders affecting the humanitarian zone in Han Yunis?

Despite the status of a humanitarian zone, there are air strikes within the zone, and evacuation orders are shrinking the zone, affecting the delivery of aid and the safety of the population.

What challenges are aid workers facing in providing care to the affected population in Gaza?

Aid workers are under immense pressure, and the care that people can receive is compromised due to shortages of supplies and the security situation within the Gaza Strip.

What is the impact of the evacuation orders on the population in Gaza?

The evacuation orders have led to displacement, with estimates of around 70,000 to 80,000 people affected, impacting the sanitary situation and mental health of the population in an already densely populated area.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ Diplomatic Efforts to Prevent Regional Escalation

UK Prime Minister K. Dama has made an urgent appeal to Iran to avoid military action against Israel, signaling a heightened diplomatic initiative to avert a potential conflict in the Middle East. This follows a phone conversation with the newly elected Iranian president, amidst concerns that Iran might retaliate with a significant attack on Israel, possibly within the week. The US has already dispatched military reinforcements, including an aircraft carrier and a guided missile submarine, to demonstrate support for Israel. Both Iran and Hezbollah have pledged to avenge the recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismael Haniya and a top Hezbollah commander. The situation is further complicated by the potential for Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, to launch a large-scale attack on Israel. Top US diplomat Anthony Lincoln is set to visit the Middle East to continue diplomatic efforts, while talks are expected to take place on Thursday, although the prospects for significant progress are slim.

05:00

🚨 Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Amidst Escalating Tensions

The situation in Gaza is dire, with increasing evacuation orders from Israeli forces that are encroaching upon what is supposed to be a safe humanitarian zone. Despite this designation, airstrikes have occurred within the zone, and the area designated for humanitarian purposes is being reduced. This has led to a shortage of essential supplies and the need for rationing, such as reducing the frequency of dressing changes for wounds. The pressure on aid workers is immense, and the quality of care that can be provided to those in need is being compromised. The entire population of Gaza is affected, with displacements caused by evacuation orders leading to an estimated 120,000 people being displaced into an already densely populated area. This has significant implications for both the sanitary conditions and the mental health of the people in Gaza.

Keywords

💡Diplomatic Push

A diplomatic push refers to a concerted effort by one or more nations to influence a situation or resolve a conflict through diplomatic means. In the video, the UK Prime Minister's phone call to the Iranian President is part of a wider diplomatic push to prevent escalation in the Middle East. It's a key action in international relations aimed at maintaining peace and stability.

💡Escalation

Escalation in this context means an increase in the intensity or severity of a conflict or situation. The script mentions the risk of escalation in the region as a reason for the diplomatic efforts, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the current geopolitical tensions.

💡Aircraft Carrier

An aircraft carrier is a large naval vessel designed to serve as a seagoing airbase, carrying aircraft for various missions. The script refers to the White House rushing an aircraft carrier to the region as a show of support for Israel, indicating a military response to the heightened tensions.

💡Guided Missile Submarine

A guided missile submarine is a type of submarine armed with long-range guided missiles. The script mentions this as part of the military assets being sent to the region, which underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential for a significant military confrontation.

💡Assassination

Assassination is the act of deliberately killing a high-profile target, often for political reasons. The script discusses the killing of Hamas political leader Ismael Haniya and a top Hezbollah commander, which has led to vows of retaliation and increased tensions.

💡Vow

A vow is a solemn promise or commitment to do something. Iran and Hezbollah's vow to avenge the assassinations is a key driver of the potential escalation mentioned in the script, showing their determination to respond to perceived injustices.

💡De-escalation

De-escalation is the process of reducing the intensity or severity of a conflict. The script mentions the hope that the arrival of a top US diplomat in the Middle East could help de-escalate the situation, indicating a diplomatic effort to prevent further conflict.

💡Humanitarian Zone

A humanitarian zone is an area designated to provide protection and assistance to civilians affected by conflict. The script describes the shrinking of such a zone in Gaza, which affects the ability to deliver aid and the safety of the population.

💡Evacuation Order

An evacuation order is a directive to leave a particular area, often due to imminent danger. The script mentions evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces in Gaza, which have led to displacement and increased pressure on already strained resources.

💡Aid Workers

Aid workers are individuals or groups who provide humanitarian assistance in crisis situations. The script discusses the immense pressure on aid workers in Gaza due to the challenging conditions, illustrating the difficulties faced in delivering aid amidst conflict.

💡Displacement

Displacement refers to the forced movement of people from their homes due to conflict, disaster, or other factors. The script cites the displacement of around 70,000 to 120,000 people in Gaza as a result of evacuation orders, highlighting the human impact of the conflict.

Highlights

UK Prime Minister K. Dama urges Iran not to attack Israel in phone call with new Iranian President, part of wider diplomatic push to prevent escalation in the region.

White House warns Iran could launch a significant attack on Israel this week, rushing military assets to the region in a show of support for Israel.

Iran and Hezbollah vow to avenge the killing of Hamas political leader Ismael Haniya and a top Hezbollah commander.

Top US Diplomat Anthony Lincoln scheduled to travel to the Middle East on Tuesday amid rising tensions.

UK Prime Minister and Iranian President discuss risk of miscalculation and need for consideration in rare phone call.

Iranian President Masud Bashan responds that Iran sees a response to the assassination as the solution to stopping crime and aggression.

Bashan criticizes Western countries' support for Israel as irresponsible in conversation with UK Prime Minister.

Western countries make a huge coordinated diplomatic effort to deescalate tensions with Iran.

Concerns in Lebanon that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, could plan a widescale attack on Israel in response to assassinations.

Real concerns of an escalation of hostilities leading to a wider regional conflict.

Americans say they will do everything to protect Israel, sending more military assets to the region.

Hope for a ceasefire in Gaza to help deescalate tensions, with talks expected on Thursday.

Little hope for major progress in talks due to the tense situation.

Conditions in Han Yunis are quite bad, with increasing evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces.

Evacuation orders are restraining the humanitarian zone, supposed to be safe, with some airstrikes occurring within it.

Aid and supplies are facing challenges due to shortages and the security situation in the Gaza Strip.

Aid workers are under immense pressure and care for people is being compromised due to the situation.

Evacuation orders have displaced many people, affecting the sanitary situation and mental health in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Transcripts

next to the Middle East UK prime

minister K dama has urged Iran to

refrain from attacking Israel his

comments in a phone call with the new

Iranian president are part of a wider

diplomatic push to prevent any

escalation in the region the White House

has warned Iran could launch what it

describes as a significant attack on

Israel as soon as this week is rushing

an aircraft carrier strike group and a

guided missile submarine to the region

in a show of supp court for Israel Iran

and the group it backs in Lebanon

Hezbollah have both vowed to avenge last

month killing of Hamas political leader

Ismael hania and a top Hezbollah

Commander as the military and diplomatic

pressure increases top us Diplomat

Anthony Lincoln is scheduled to travel

to the Middle East on

Tuesday well our Middle East

correspondent Huga standing by for us in

Beirut hi Hugo talk us through this

phone call what we know about it with UK

prime minister

K yeah Lou so it was a rare phone call

between the UK prime minister and an

Iranian president the last time uh a

phone call between the two leaders uh

happened was in 2021 so it shows uh the

seriousness of the situation uh the

British prime minister uh saying that uh

there was uh the risk of miscalculation

and that now was the time for um um C

for consideration now there has been a

response from uh Iran this morning the

uh Iranian State News Agency reported

that the uh Iranian president masud

Bashan told the Prime Minister that Iran

sees uh a response to the assassination

that happened in Iran as the solution to

stopping crime and aggression and he

also said that the support of some

Western countries for Israel is

irresponsible so some strong words there

from the Iranian president in their

phone call that happened yesterday with

the British prime minister uh and again

part of this uh huge coordinated a

diplomatic effort from Western countries

to try to deescalate tensions with Iran

Iran has promised to retaliate following

the killing of isia the Hamas political

leader in Teran two weeks ago uh both

Iran and Hamas blame Israel for this

assassination and as you said uh there

are concerns here in Lebanon that

Hezbollah the powerful militia backed by

Iran could also be planning a widescale

attack on Israel in response to the

assassination of a senior Hezbollah

Commander here in Beirut so real

concerns that uh an escalation of

hostilities could lead to a wider

regional conflict now the Americans

again are saying that they're going to

do everything to protect Israel there

saying more military assets to uh the

region uh and uh and the Hope here is

that a cizire in Gaza could help uh

deescalate TS here uh talks are expected

to happen on Thursday but I think there

is very little hope that any kind of

major uh progress can be

reached okay Hugo thank you very much

for that Hugo bash

there right uh let's was just mentioning

there the war in Gaza we're going to get

the latest an update on the situation in

the ground on Han Yunis from medicine s

fontier project coordinator uh Jacob

Granger thank you very much for coming

on the

program thank you leis uh so we've just

touched on the The Wider geopolitics in

the region but we want to just get a

sense of what is happening on the ground

what are the conditions for example in

hanun is like right

now the condition in hun are quite uh

bad needless to say uh so since uh

several weeks there are more and more

evacuation orders that are issued by the

Israeli forces

uh and it's a little bit restraining the

space of the so-called humanitarian zone

so a zone that is supposed to be uh safe

um so despite the status of humanitarian

Zone we observe that there are one some

air strikes within the zone and second

some evacuation

order shrinking the the zone so I see

the effects sorry

so on that the shrinking of that zone

what about getting Aid and supplies into

those

areas so for the aid it's depending on

the supply so we have shortage of some

of the items uh quite complicated to get

in for many reasons also any reason of

the security uh situation within the the

Gaza Strip uh and then for the we are

trying to develop some coping strategies

so by example for the dressings we are

going to reduce the number of dressing

uh instead of doing two uh every uh I

don't know four days we are going to do

only one change of dressing every 4 day

this is just an

example and that clearly puts your staff

uh Aid workers under immense pressure

and obviously compromises the care that

people can receive what about as far as

you know in the rest of Gaza is it

similar challenges basically having to

be sparing with the supplies that you've

got yes it's uh more or less the same in

entire Gaza and what is really important

to understand is that everyone is

affected by this so our staff as the

rest of the population meaning that when

there are this evacuation Ord so there

was one in the eastern part of hunis

this 8th of August and another one uh

two or three days after the 10th uh of

August and the two evacuation order had

for consequences that a lot of people uh

had to go west uh had to be displaced so

estimation from UN agency would be

around

70,000 under eight and another maybe

50,000 two days after uh which is uh a

lot on this area that is already uh

densely populated quite small and it has

some effect both uh on the sanitary

situation on the Gaza Strip but also on

the mental health of the population here

okay well thank you so much for coming

on the program and uh talking us through

that explaining the circumstances under

which you're operating there in Han and

indeed AC crossa thank you you're

welcome