Live Updates: Iran, Israel 'should not escalate this conflict' — Blinken

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

05:33 GMT — Iran, Israel 'should not escalate this conflict' — Blinken

Both Iran and Israel should avoid escalating conflict in the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, in his most direct wording toward US ally Israel, which has created possibility of a larger war in the region after back-to-back assassinations in Iran and Lebanon.

"No one should escalate this conflict. We've been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel," Blinken told reporters.

Blinken said Gaza prisoner swap-ceasefire negotiations have reached final stage and it is critical that parties work to finalise agreement as soon as possible.

03:50 GMT — Hezbollah hails Hamas' Sinwar on becoming new negotiator

Lebanon's Hezbollah has congratulated Yahya Sinwar on becoming Hamas' new political chief, saying it shows Israel's goals in assassinating his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, have failed.

Sinwar will replace Ismail Haniyeh, chief of Hamas' political bureau and lead peace negotiator, who was assassinated by Israel in Tehran after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new president on July 31.

Iran has pledged to avenge Haniyeh's assassination by Netanyahu's regime in a retribution Israel and its main backer US awaits.

03:23 GMT — Iran, Israel 'should not escalate this conflict': Blinken

Both Iran and Israel should avoid escalating conflict in the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, in his most direct wording toward US ally Israel, which has created possibility of a larger war in the region after back-to-back assassinations in Iran and Lebanon.

"No one should escalate this conflict. We've been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel," Blinken told reporters.

Blinken said Gaza hostage-ceasefire negotiations have reached final stage and it is critical that parties work to finalise agreement as soon as possible.

03:00 GMT — Smotrich calls for assassination of Nasrallah

Israel's extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

"Israel should not respond to Nasrallah; Israel should eliminate Nasrallah," Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionism party, wrote on X.

The post came in response to a speech by Nasrallah in which he vowed a "significant and effective" response to Israel's assassination of prominent Hezbollah figure Fuad Shukr.

20:30 GMT — Israel FM calls to assassinate new Hamas chief Sinwar

Israel's extremist foreign minister has called to "swiftly eliminate" Yahya Sinwar, who was appointed by Hamas as the group's new political leader, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated by Israel in Tehran last week.

"The appointment of arch-terrorist Yahya Sinwar as the new leader of Hamas, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, is yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organisation off the face of the Earth," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on social media site X.

For our live updates from Tuesday, August 6, 2024, click here.