Axios reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 countries that Iran and Hezbollah may begin attacking Israel on Monday, citing three sources familiar with the call.

Axios indicated that Blinken said that it was not clear how Iran or Hezbollah would attack Israel, and that he did not know the exact date.

Blinken said, according to sources, that the United States does not know the exact timing of the attacks on Israel, but he stressed that they may begin within the next 24 to 48 hours, i.e. early Monday.

Asked about the report, the Foreign Office referred to a transcript of the call in which the ministers reportedly discussed "the urgent need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East."

According to the sources, Blinken confirmed the United States' belief that Iran and Hezbollah will take revenge on Israel, but it is not clear what form the revenge will take.

Blinken told his counterparts that the United States is making efforts to break the cycle of escalation, and asked the other foreign ministers to exert diplomatic pressure on Iran, Hezbollah and Israel to maintain maximum restraint.

Sources reported that Blinken informed the G7 foreign ministers that the US troop buildup in the region was for defensive purposes only.

Tensions in the region have been high following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Fouad Shukr, a senior military commander in the Iranian-allied Lebanese Hezbollah group.

The US Department of Defense said on Friday it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region.

US President Joe Biden expressed hope on Sunday that Iran would back down from its position despite its threat to avenge Haniyeh's assassination.

The United States on Wednesday urged its citizens wishing to leave Lebanon to begin planning their departure immediately.

The British government advised its citizens to leave Lebanon, and Canada warned its citizens against travelling to Israel, saying the conflict in the region was endangering security.

The United States and its international partners, including France, Britain, Italy and Egypt, continued their diplomatic contacts in an effort to prevent further escalation in the region.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi concluded a rare visit to Iran on Sunday, during which he called for an end to the escalation of violence and to contribute to "building a region of security and peace."