Blinken Urges De-escalation Amid Rising Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed a desire to avoid further conflict after Israel accused Hezbollah of a deadly rocket attack. The incident has heightened fears of a broader war, with Blinken emphasizing the need for de-escalation and highlighting ongoing talks about a ceasefire in Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday he does not want to see an escalation of conflict on Israel's northern border after Israel accused Hezbollah of killing 12 children and teenagers in a rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel responded by vowing to strike hard against the Iran-backed group, which denied responsibility for the attack.

The strike raised fears of a wider conflict in the region where tensions have intensified due to Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. The war, which began more than nine months ago, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and created a humanitarian crisis. Blinken noted that the U.S. is in discussions with Israel about the incident, with evidence pointing to Lebanon-based Hezbollah as the perpetrator.

"I emphasize (Israel's) right to defend its citizens and our determination to make sure that they're able to do that," Blinken stated during a news conference in Tokyo. "But we also don't want to see the conflict escalate. We don't want to see it spread." Blinken expressed his sadness over the loss of life and stated that achieving a ceasefire in Gaza could help calm the situation on Israel's northern border.

He stressed the importance of defusing the conflict not only to prevent its escalation but also to address the needs of displaced people in both Israel and Lebanon. Despite mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza remains elusive.

Echoing Blinken's sentiments, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday that Israel had the right to defend itself against Hezbollah as it does against Hamas. "Israel has every right to defend itself," Schumer told CBS News, adding that no one desires a wider war and that de-escalation efforts are critical.

(With inputs from agencies.)