U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the importance of avoiding any actions that could heighten tensions in the Middle East.

�France and the United States are united in calling for restraint and urging de-escalation when it comes to the Middle East in general and when it comes to Lebanon in particular,� Blinken said after talks in Paris with French counterpart Stephane Sejourne.

�We don�t want to see any escalatory actions by any party� that would endanger the goal of a ceasefire to the Gaza conflict, he added.