US urges de‑escalation after deadly blasts hit Hezbollah devices
The US State Department warned on Thursday that all parties involved in the Middle East conflict should avoid escalating tensions following the latest wave of explosions targeting Hezbollah members' communication devices. The department emphasized that Washington's priority is a diplomatic solution.
9:58 AM EDT, September 20, 2024
"We will continue to stand by Israel's right to defend itself, but we don't want to see any party escalate this conflict," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Appealing to calm the situation, which has reached a critical point due to the recent explosions of Hezbollah members' communication devices in Lebanon, Miller noted that although the US seeks to reduce tension, "ultimately, yes, every country is responsible, and every entity is responsible for the actions that they take."
Miller refused to comment on rumors that Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin postponed a planned trip to Israel this week. He only indicated that Washington would continue talks with Israel.
Hezbollah: Red lines crossed
Explosions affecting the pagers, phones, and radios of Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, resulted in the death of 37 members of the extremist group and injured about 3,000 people.
Hezbollah declared that "all red lines" have been crossed and announced retaliation.
