The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world3 days ago
Middle Eastern nations need to use their influence over regional actors to ensure the Gaza conflict is contained and prevent "an endless cycle of violence," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday.
Blinken spoke late in the day after meeting the leaders of Turkey and Greece at the start of a week-long trip aimed at calming tensions that have spiked since Israel's war with Hamas began in October.
It is in the interests of virtually all nations in the Middle East to contain the fighting, Blinken told reporters.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
"We want to make sure that countries who feel that way are also using their ties, using their influence, using their relationships with some of the actors that might be involved to keep a lid on things, to make sure that we're not seeing the spread of conflict," he said before flying to Jordan.
Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group said on Saturday it had fired rockets at Israel, and its arch-foe said it had struck a "terrorist cell" in retaliation.
Blinken said it was very important that Israel had security in the north of the country.
"From the perspective of Israel, it's clearly not interested, does not want escalation ... but they also have to be fully prepared to defend themselves," he said.
Blinken, who will also visit Arab states, Israel and the occupied West Bank, said if efforts to settle the crisis failed the outcome would be "an endless cycle of violence ... and lives of insecurity and conflict for people in the region".
He also said he would be looking at what could be done to maximise the protection of civilians in Gaza and increase deliveries of humanitarian assistance.
"Far too many Palestinians have been killed, especially children," he said.
ALSO READ:
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 22,700 Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials, and the conflict has spilled into the West Bank, Lebanon and Red Sea shipping lanes.
Blinken earlier met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, a strong critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Blinken and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had earlier discussed Gaza, as well as Turkey's process to ratify Sweden's membership of the NATO military alliance, Turkey's foreign ministry said.
US officials have been frustrated by the length of the process, but are confident Ankara will soon approve Sweden's accession after it won the Turkish parliament's backing last month, said a senior State Department official travelling with Blinken, speaking on condition of anonymity.
US lawmakers have held up the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey until it signs off on Swedish membership.
Blinken later travelled to Crete where he met Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Fellow NATO member Greece is awaiting US Congress approval of a sale of F-35 fighter jets.
Blinken stressed the importance of Greece's strong alliance with Washington, while Mitsotakis said the two countries could work together to help safeguard security in a turbulent region.
The US official said Turkey has relationships with many parties in the conflict, a reference to its ties to US adversary Iran and Hamas. Unlike the US, Turkey does not view Hamas as a terrorist group and hosts some of its members.
Blinken also hopes to make progress in talks on how Gaza could be governed if and when Israel achieves its aim of eradicating Hamas.
The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world3 days ago
The country launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash
world4 days ago
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make 'recess appointments'
world4 days ago
Police allege the offences took place between 2001 and 2019 against 8 victims; the youngest was 17 at the time of the offence
world4 days ago
The two countries have a mutual defence treaty dating back to 1951, which could be invoked if either side came under attack, including in the South China Sea
world4 days ago
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger on Narendra Modi in Abuja on Sunday
world5 days ago
The titleholder's winning answer focused on using each individual's strengths
world5 days ago
The suspects would be interrogated jointly with the Shin Bet internal security agency, police said
world5 days ago