United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted on "the importance of preventing escalation of the conflict" between Israel and Hezbollah in a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday.
According to the readout of the conversation disclosed by State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken stressed that a diplomatic solution is necessary to "allow citizens on both sides of the border between Israel and Lebanon to return home," and reiterated that the US is committed "to Israel's security against threats from Iranian-backed terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah."
The two officials also discussed the latest developments in the negotiations on a Gaza ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages captured by Hamas.
