PARIS: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday urged against “escalatory actions by any party” in the Middle East, following a series of deadly explosions of communications devices of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group blamed on Israel.
Speaking alongside French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourne after talks in Paris, Blinken urged all parties to refrain from “escalatory actions,” highlighting the critical situation in Lebanon as the international community works towards a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We continue to work to get a ceasefire for Gaza over the finish line… We believe that remains both possible and necessary,” Blinken stated. He warned that any provocative actions could undermine these efforts, making a resolution more difficult.
The explosions, which killed 37 people and injured nearly 3,000 over two days, have raised alarms about a potential escalation into broader conflict. Blinken reiterated the unified stance of France and the United States in calling for restraint, particularly in light of the precarious situation in Lebanon.
Séjourne, in one of his last public appearances before a cabinet reshuffle, expressed deep concerns about the potential for regional conflict. He remarked, “Lebanon would not recover from a total war”.
Fears of a major war on Israel’s northern border have increased after thousands of Hezbollah operatives’ communication devices exploded across Lebanon, killing 37 people and injuring nearly 3,000 more across two days.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday warned that Israel will receive “just punishment” for the communications device explosions.
In his first speech since the device blasts, Hassan Nasrallah Israel will face “tough retribution and just punishment, where it expects it and where it does not.” He said that he would not give further details of the place, timing or nature of Hezbollah’s retaliation.
Labeling the explosions a “massacre” and a “war crime,” Nasrallah claimed that Israel intended to cause mass casualties, suggesting a desire to “kill no less than 5,000 people in two minutes.” He characterized the attacks as a possible “act of war”. He expressed Hezbollah’s readiness to escalate its military engagement.
