- United States, Together with France, Germany, Italy e UK, have expressed concern about the increased risk of a Iranian attack against Israel, launching an urgent appeal to Tehran to avoid an escalation. Despite signs of a possible truce agreement in Gaza, Israel has warned that an Iranian attack could take place in the next few days, perhaps before the meeting between the mediators on August 15th. With Israel on high alert, the White House and its European allies have urged Tehran to back down, warning of the grave consequences of an attack on Israel and calling for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has decided to go on the attack to show its strength and respond to Russian aggression with concrete actions: Kiev it conquered 28 locations and over 1.000 square kilometers in the Kursk region of Russia. Vladimir Putin's response was harsh: he promised to oust Ukrainian forces and accused the West of orchestrating the offensive, exacerbating tensions. The incursion resulted in the evacuation of 121 civilians and a surge in gas and oil prices. The situation is further complicated by attacks on civilian infrastructure and mutual accusations between Moscow and Kiev for a fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Biden and European leaders are calling on Iran to step back
Initially, there were signs that a agreement for a truce in Gaza was close, an outcome that could have stopped or at least contained Iranian retaliation against Israel. However, the Jewish state has informed the Americans that Tehran seems intent on attacking soon, perhaps even before the August 15 meeting between the mediators of the conflict in the Strip. This concern is shared by the United States. White House spokesman John Kirby said: “Israel believes there is a growing possibility that Iran and its proxies will attack in the coming days. We share this concern and are coordinating with Israel and other partners in the region." US Secretary of State Blinken is preparing for a new tour in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden held talks with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom to discuss the explosive situation in the Middle East, with the aim of pushing for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In a statement joint, the five Western powers warned Tehran of the serious consequences that an attack against Israel would entail, expressing their full support for the defense of the Jewish state. The leaders underlined theurgency to work towards de-escalation tensions and for the release of hostages in Gaza.
Tehran responds: “We have the right to react”
For its part, Iran is not backing down. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his country's right to respond to any aggression, while underlining his preference for negotiations. In a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow to pressure or sanctions, and would defend its rights according to international law.
Israel on high alert
As tensions rise, Israel leaves nothing to chance. The Israeli armed forces I'm in the state of maxim Alert, ready to defend themselves and respond to any threat. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed the intensification of security measures, including increased air patrols over Lebanon. Israeli President Isaac Herzog stressed the country's unity and the readiness of its armed forces, saying Israel is ready to face the threat on multiple fronts.
Diplomacy in action: calls to stop escalation
Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, spoke with his Iranian counterpart, urging him to avoid reactions that could further inflame the conflict. Tajani reiterated the importance of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that no more innocent lives can be sacrificed. Even the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, expressed the Holy See's serious concern for the situation in the Middle East, asking to avoid the expansion of the conflict and to promote dialogue and peace.
The Ukrainian advance in the Kursk region
On the Russian-Ukrainian front, the situation becomes further complicated. The governor of the region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, admitted that Ukrainian forces took control of 28 locations, advancing 12 kilometers deep into Russian territory. This attack, which began on August 6, was confirmed by the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, who stated that around 1.000 square kilometers of Russian territory are now under Ukrainian control.
The Ukrainian advance represents an important development in a conflict that has so far mainly seen Russia conduct offensive operations. Kiev's forces, well organized and equipped with effective tactical maneuvers, are putting the Russian army in difficulty, which is struggling to identify a clear front line. Smirnov in fact expressed concern about the unpredictability of the Ukrainian units, which seem to move in small groups, displacing the Russian forces.
The Russian response: Putin's anger
In a meeting with the leaders of the armed forces and security, Vladimir Putin he showed all his anger for the Ukrainian incursion, promising a "worthy response". The Russian president stated that the first objective now is to expel Kiev's forces from Russian territory and it closed the door to any possibility of negotiation, accusing Ukraine of acting on orders from the West. “The West is waging a war against Russia using Ukrainian forces,” Putin said, accusing the United States and its allies of fighting a proxy war.
Putin linked the Ukrainian incursion to an attempt to stop the Russian advance in Donbass and the southern regions of Ukraine, where the Russian army has been engaged in offensive operations for months. Despite the difficulties, the Russian president stressed that Moscow's forces "are advancing along the entire front line" and questioned the alleged demoralizing effect of the Ukrainian incursion, saying it will fail to sow discord in Russian society.
Humanitarian crisis and economic impacts
The Ukrainian advance triggered a mass exodus in the Kursk region. According to Governor Smirnov, 121 thousand civilians were evacuated from the combat areas, while in the nearby Ukrainian region of Sumy, around 20 thousand people were forced to leave their homes.
Border tensions have also had repercussions on energy markets. The price of natural gas rose by 2,73% on the TTF stock exchange in Amsterdam, while oil prices are rising due to risks related to the conflict. These developments further fuel global concerns about energy stability.
Accidents and mutual accusations
Meanwhile, the situation remains tense in other areas of the conflict. In the Ukrainian region of chernihiv, local authorities reported Russian drone attacks on civilian infrastructure, although no casualties were reported. The propaganda war between Moscow and Kiev also continues on the nuclear front, with mutual accusations regarding thefire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspected the site but could not determine the cause of the accident, further fueling tensions.
