The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, demanded on Tuesday — for the first time in public — that Iran and Israel avoid any “escalation”. So that they are not led to a wider armed conflict in the Near East.
“There should be no escalation by anyone that would lead to armed conflict. We are conducting intensive diplomatic efforts, together with our allies and partners,” he noted. “We sent the message directly to Iran. We got the message straight to Israel,” insisted the US foreign minister during a joint press conference with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Australian counterparts Penny Wong and Richard Marles respectively.
“Our commitment is unwavering (to Israel’s security),” he added. While Anthony Blinken explained that “we will continue to defend Israel against attacks by terrorist organizations or their supporters, just as we will continue to defend our troops.” Which he emphasized in an apparent reference to Iran and the “axis of resistance,” the loose alliance of Tehran-aligned organizations in the region, such as Hezbollah.
Tensions escalated after Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah accused Israel of assassinating Ismail Haniya. That’s why they vowed to take revenge.
The tensions
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday reiterated that there will be retaliation against Israel. In particular, he underlined that “whatever the consequences”, after the murder of Ismail Haniya and Fouad Soukr, in an Israeli bombardment in a southern suburb of Beirut.
Hamas has announced that its chief in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, is taking over the leadership of the movement. He is one of the most wanted persons in Israel.
“Mr. Sinouar was and remains a key decision-maker in terms of concluding a cease-fire agreement” in the Palestinian enclave, Anthony Blinken said. While Washington is putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make a deal.
The American Pentagon announced on Friday the deployment of other warships and fighter aircraft in the region. Including, in fact, almost invisible to F-22 radars, to defend Israel and the US military stationed there.
Lloyd Austin also declared that the US “will not tolerate” attacks against its forces in the Middle East. Which is what happened the day after a rocket hit an air base in Iraq that injured seven Americans.
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