Middle East Crisis: Israel digging its own grave, says IRGC chief

Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said Israel was "digging its own grave" with the actions in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

“When they receive a blow, they will notice they are making mistakes. They are making mistakes all the time,” said Salami. 

“They think they can kill the nuclear scientists of another country and impede that country’s path toward peaceful nuclear technology. They think that by killing the leader of a resistance group… in another country will give them more time to live.” 

“They are just digging their own grave.”

Lebanese terror outfit Hezbollah has claimed that its drone attack on an Israeli military site near Malkia settlement hit the "targets accurately". 

According to reports, US is willing to guarantee that Israel will be able to renew fighting against Hamas after the first phase of a potential ceasefire and hostage deal.  

According to a Reuters reports, Turkey and Japan have become the latest countries to warn their citizens to not stay in Lebanon. 

“Those who do not need to stay in Lebanon should leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still operating, if possible,” the Turkish foreign ministry said. 

Meanwhile, the Japanese foreign ministry issued a similar directive. 

The IDF on Monday (Aug 5) said its warplanes struck a Hezbollah weapons storage facility and several other targets in overnight missions. 

According to reports, Israeli fighter jets carried out air raids and hit the Nuseirat refugee camp and an area near the al-Qastal Towers in the nearby city of Deir el-Balah.

As Israel waits for Iran to launch the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was prepared for everything. 

“We are prepared for any scenario – both offensively and defensively,” Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

"The State of Israel is in a multi-front war against Iran’s axis of evil. We are striking every one of its arms with great force.”

“I reiterate and tell our enemies: We will respond and we will exact a heavy price for any act of aggression against us, from whatever quarter,” Netanyahu declared.

Washington is especially wary after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said avenging Haniyeh's blood was their 'duty' and vowed retaliation against Israel. 

“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our house and made us bereaved," Khamenei said last week. 

“We consider it our duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult incident that happened in the territory of the Islamic Republic,” he added. 

"We express our deep concern over the heightened level of tension in the Middle East which threatens to ignite a broader conflict in the region," read the statement. 

"We urge all involved parties to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to lower tensions and engage constructively towards de-escalation. No country or nation stands to gain from further escalation in the Middle East."

According to a report in the Times of Israel, an underground bunker has been prepared by Shin Bet where senior leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can remain for an extended period during the war, especially amid fears of attack by Iran and Hezbollah.

Blinken set up a conference call with the G7 nations to generate 'last-minute diplomatic pressure on Iran and Hezbollah' to minimise the threat of an all-out war in the volatile region.