Credits: N Digital
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an end to “escalatory actions” by all parties in the Middle East and urged for a ceasefire in Gaza. His statement came following the death of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike in Tehran, which Iran attributed to Israel. This incident occurred shortly after Israel announced the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in a retaliatory strike on Beirut, Lebanon.
The recent violence has heightened regional tensions, involving Iran-backed groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. Israel has not commented on the Tehran strike that resulted in Haniyeh’s death.
During a press conference in Mongolia, Blinken expressed concern about the escalating conflict. “The Middle East is on a path toward more conflict, more violence, more suffering, more insecurity, and it is crucial that we break this cycle,” he said. Blinken emphasized the importance of a ceasefire, noting that achieving it requires dialogue and restraint from all involved parties.
He did not directly address the impact of Haniyeh’s death on the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, which the United States is pursuing alongside Egypt and Qatar. The call for calm and a halt to violence underscores the ongoing efforts to stabilize the region amidst a complex and volatile situation.