US' Blinken, Lebanese parliament speaker discuss situation in Lebanon in face of massive Israeli attacks

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday discussed with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri the situation in Lebanon amid a campaign of Israeli attacks that have killed thousands, with many world leaders warning the escalation could lead to a regional war.

The official Lebanese National News Agency reported that Berri received a phone call from Blinken that lasted over 40 minutes, but gave no further details.

Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Lebanese group Hezbollah, said in a Tuesday televised speech that the group has full confidence in Berri and supports his political efforts to reach a truce.

"We support political efforts led by Berri with its primary goal of a cease-fire,” he added.

Qassem also said any other discussions “have no place for Hezbollah” before a cease-fire.

Since Sept. 23, Israel has mounted massive airstrikes across Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets, killing at least 1,351 people, injuring over 3,800 others, and displacing more than 1.2 million people.

The aerial campaign is an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of its offensive on the Gaza Strip, in which Israel has killed over 42,100 people, most of them women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

Despite international warnings that the Mideast was on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, it expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 by launching a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar