Blinken: We will continue to defend Israel.. and Austin: We will not tolerate any attack on our forces

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said on Tuesday that the US administration will continue to defend Israel against attacks by what he described as “terrorist groups.”

"We will continue to defend our forces," he added. On Tuesday, Blinken urged Iran and Israel not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East.

Blinken said in a statement to reporters, “No one should escalate this conflict.” We are engaged in intense diplomatic efforts with allies and partners, to convey this message directly to Iran. “We conveyed that message directly to Israel.”

Blinken announced that the new head of the Hamas political bureau, Yahya Sinwar, must decide on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with Israel.

Blinken said, "Sinwar was and remains the main decision maker regarding concluding a ceasefire" in Gaza.

For his part, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday that the United States “will not tolerate” any attack targeting its forces in the Middle East, the day after seven American soldiers were injured in a missile strike that targeted the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq.

“Make no mistake: The United States will not tolerate any attack on our forces in the region,” Austin said during a press conference in Annapolis.

(agencies)