On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the urgent need to end the conflict in Gaza, urging Israel to refrain from escalating tensions with Iran. Israel is currently engaged in military action against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, following a missile strike from Iran on October 1.
Reports from Lebanon indicated an Israeli drone strike in Tyre, prompting mass evacuations as residents fled the coastal city, once a bustling hub. “The situation is very bad; we’re evacuating people,” said Mortada Mhanna, head of Tyre’s disaster management unit, highlighting the severe impact of the conflict on the local population.
This visit marks Blinken’s 11th trip to the region since the onset of the Gaza war, which began after Hamas’s deadly attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Blinken noted that Israel has achieved most of its strategic goals in Gaza but stressed that it is time to convert these victories into long-term stability.
Regarding humanitarian aid, Blinken acknowledged progress but insisted that more substantial and sustained efforts are essential. He called on Israel to respond to the Iranian missile attack in a manner that does not exacerbate the situation further. Following his discussions in Israel, Blinken plans to visit Saudi Arabia, which has stalled normalization talks with Israel pending the establishment of a Palestinian state.
