US says it aims to 'lower temperature' in Middle East

The United States is making efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East, as stated by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations. She expressed that the US aims to deter and defend against any potential future attacks while also striving to prevent regional conflicts. This statement comes amid rising concerns that Iran may retaliate against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last July. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for this assassination, the fear of Iranian retaliation is palpable. On Tuesday, Thomas-Greenfield addressed the UN Security Council in New York City, emphasizing the US's commitment to maintaining peace and avoiding further conflict. President Joe Biden also weighed in on the situation, suggesting that reaching a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas could help deter Iran from launching an attack. He remarked, 'That's my expectation but we'll see,' when questioned by reporters during his visit to New Orleans, Louisiana. A new round of ceasefire negotiations is scheduled to take place in either Doha or Cairo on Thursday. However, a Hamas official in Lebanon, Ahmad Abdul Hadi, has indicated that Hamas will not participate in these discussions, as reported by the New York Times and Sky News. In addition, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed his planned trip to the Middle East to engage in negotiations regarding a Gaza ceasefire deal. International mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are actively working towards an agreement that would facilitate the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Concurrently, the US has approved a significant arms sale to Israel, amounting to $20 billion. This deal includes the purchase of 50 F-15 fighter jets, along with a substantial quantity of ammunition and military vehicles. The delivery of these aircraft is expected to commence in 2029. During the Security Council meeting, Thomas-Greenfield reiterated the importance of finalizing a ceasefire deal. She stated, 'A broader regional conflict is not inevitable,' and emphasized that the US's overarching goal is to reduce tensions in the region, deter future attacks, and prevent further conflict. She believes that this process should begin with the establishment of a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of hostages in Gaza. Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour criticized the Security Council for its perceived inaction regarding Israel's military operations in Gaza. He urged the Council to take decisive action and stop the violence against civilians. In contrast, Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan defended Israel's military actions, asserting that they are taking every possible measure to minimize collateral damage and accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. He also criticized the Security Council for failing to condemn Iran's actions. 'As we speak here now, millions of Israelis are preparing for a direct Iranian attack, just as they did in April. Iran's aggression threatens the entire region with war,' he stated. Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to dismantle Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken. Since then, more than 39,920 individuals have reportedly lost their lives in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. Additionally, there have been numerous casualties in the ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military along the Israel-Lebanon border since the conflict began. Amidst a flurry of international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, Iran has been urged to refrain from retaliating against Israel for the killing of Haniyeh. Meanwhile, Israel has heightened its military alert level in response to the situation. The US has also warned that it is preparing for a significant set of attacks by Iran or its proxies in the near future and has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East to assist in defending Israel.