Description
Added on the 22/08/2018 07:43:33 - Copyright : Wochit
White smoke billows on the border between Lebanon and Israel, seen from the Lebanese side, as Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it fired missiles on Israel Wednesday drawing retaliatory Israeli fire, after three of its members were killed earlier this week amid soaring border tensions. Hezbollah "targeted a Zionist (Israeli) position... facing Dhayra village, with guided missiles," in a "firm response to Zionist attacks... which led to the martyrdom of a number of brothers," the group said in a statement. IMAGES
The United States warns against further escalation in the Middle East after a suspected Israeli attack on a Hamas leader in Lebanon and deadly blasts in Iran. "It is in no one's interest -- not in the interest of any country in the region, not in the interest of any country in the world -- to see this conflict. escalated any further than it already is," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
The United States on Wednesday rejects suggestions that ally Israel or Washington is behind deadly blasts in Iran at the grave of Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed four years ago in a US strike. "The United States was not involved in any way, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
The White House accuses Iran of "actively facilitating" attacks on US bases in the Middle East, as it expresses concern over the potential for escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. SOUNDBITE
The United States has not been "not involved in any offensive operations", US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says following reports that Israel had carried out revenge strikes on Iran. "On the first question, the reports that you've seen: I'm not going to speak to that except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations", Blinken tells a journalist at a press conference on the Italian island of Capri, adding that the G7 is focused on its "work to de-escalate from any potential conflict" in the Middle East. IMAGES
The Group of Seven industrialised nations is "committed to de-escalating" tensions in the Middle East in the wake of reports that Israel launched strikes on Iran in retaliation for its unprecedented attack on Israeli soil Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says. "We're committed to Israel's security. We're also committed to de-escalating, to trying to bring this tension to a close," Blinken tells a press conference after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on the Italian island of Capri. SOUNDBITE
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reiterates his desire to see "calm heads prevail" in the Middle East, following reports that Israel carried out a retaliatory strike on Iran. "Significant escalation is not in anyone's interest," he says during questions after delivering an unrelated speech, adding: "What we want to see is calm heads prevail across the region." SOUNDBITE