In his speech at the Brookings Institution, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concern about the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah and stressed that the parties do not really want a full-scale war.

Blinken pointed out that neither Hezbollah, Israel nor Lebanon want war. He believes that Hezbollah may use its role in the region, while Iran wants to ensure that Hezbollah is not destroyed and use it as a bargaining chip when needed. Blinken also mentioned Israel’s move to de-escalate its military operations in Gaza to focus on the threat of Hezbollah on the northern border.

In addition, Blinken’s speech was interrupted by the outside opposition, and the voices of pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Brookings Institution could be heard, showing the widespread attention and controversy this issue has caused in the region and beyond.