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Biden warns of regional war.. France and America discuss new formulas
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Fears of a comprehensive war in the Middle East are increasing, prompting international powers to move quickly towards finding diplomatic solutions to contain the crisis and avoid escalation
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern on Wednesday about the possibility of a "wide-scale conflict" in the Middle East region. During an interview with ABC, Biden clarified that "a comprehensive conflict is possible. However, I believe there is still an opportunity (to reach) a settlement that could fundamentally change the entire region."
He added, "There's a possibility, I don't want to overstate it, but there's a chance that if we succeed in reaching a truce in Lebanon, it would allow us to focus on the West Bank." Biden continued on The View program, "We also need to address Gaza (...) but all of this is achievable, and I'm doing my utmost with my team to accomplish this endeavor."
Read also: Radio attacks.. 1500 Hezbollah members blinded or lost their hands
Earlier the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the risk of escalation in the Middle East is "extreme," and that Washington and its partners are working tirelessly to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. He added, "We are meeting amid high tension," at the beginning of a meeting with high-ranking officials and ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in New York.
In a related context, the White House reported today that the launch of a rocket by Lebanese Hezbollah at Tel Aviv, Israel, is "extremely concerning," but affirmed that there is room for diplomatic efforts to avoid a "wide-scale war."
In the same vein, a French diplomatic source revealed to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been in New York since yesterday, is personally overseeing contacts made by his advisors with the American side to stop the escalation in Lebanon.
Before the emergency session scheduled to be held in the UN Security Council this evening at France's request to discuss the situation in Lebanon, and before an expected meeting between Macron and Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly events, Paris is seeking to try to find consensus on a new formula to reduce tension. Work is also underway to prepare a new text on ways to implement UN Resolution 1701, and if this consensus is not achieved, alternative formulas for de-escalation will be discussed.
As part of the American-French communications, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Amos Hochstein met in New York with a delegation of Macron's advisors, according to what a French diplomatic source confirmed to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath.
Levant-Agencies
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