US Central Command Commander in Charge of the Middle East Visits the Region

General Michael Kurilla, who heads U.S. forces in the Middle East, arrived Saturday in the region, where countries are awaiting the response of the "Axis of Resistance" to the assassinations, last Tuesday and Wednesday, of the military leader of Hezbollah in Beirut and the leader of Hamas in Tehran, two American officials told the Axios website.

The trip had been planned ahead of the latest military escalation. A U.S. official said Kurilla would visit several Gulf countries, Jordan and Israel during his tour. Jordan's foreign minister is expected in Tehran later today after Amman helped to intercept missiles launched by Iran against Israel in April. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately comment on the tour.

The new outbreak of fever in the Middle East began on Saturday, July 27, with a deadly strike against the town of Majdal Shams, on the Syrian Golan Heights occupied by Israel, killing twelve children and adolescents. In response to this strike, Israel targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, but the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has not been claimed. Since then, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah have promised to retaliate.

"He is expected to use this trip to try to mobilize the same international and regional coalition that defended Israel against an attack by Iran on April 13," one of the US officials was quoted as saying by Axios.

U.S. and Israeli officials said they were unsure whether Iran and Hezbollah would carry out a coordinated attack or operate separately. According to the outlet, two U.S. officials and one Israeli, when asked about the timing of the response, said they “expect Iran to attack Israel as early as Monday.” Meanwhile, journalist Barak Ravid added that U.S. officials expect “Iranian retaliation to be similar to the April 13 attack on Israel, but potentially larger, and to also involve Hezbollah.”

This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.