US president will also call King Abdullah II, after Jordanian minister makes last-ditch trip to Iran in bid to restrain Tehran
Punishing Israel is necessary, says Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson
Nasser Kanaani, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said Tehran was not looking to escalate tensions but punishment was ‘“necessary” as a response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital and to prevent further instability.Hezbollah launches drone attack on northern Israel
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has hit northern Israel in a drone attack in response to what it called “attacks and assassinations” carried out by Israel in several villages in south Lebanon. The Israeli military says the attack wounded two soldiers and set off a fire.
The violence came amid fears of an all-out war after the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ political leader in Iran.
The Hezbollah attack appears more in keeping with ongoing border skirmishes, rather than as a direct response to the political assassinations.
The Israeli military said fire services were working to put out a fire that was ignited as a result of the attack in Ayelet HaShahar in the upper Galilee.Opening summary
US President Joe Biden will meet his national security team to discuss the situation in the Middle East on Monday, the White House has said, as fears grow that Iran will strike Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.
Biden would also speak to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the White House said.
