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WESTERN DIPLOMACY

US, European diplomats to discuss Mideast tensions on Thursday in Paris

US, European diplomats to discuss Mideast tensions on Thursday in Paris

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers a statement on Russian intelligence operations at the U.S. State Department on Sept. 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP)

Senior diplomats from the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Italy will meet on Thursday in Paris to discuss the spiralling tensions in the Middle East, sources said on Wednesday.

The meeting will take place as fears grow of an all-out war engulfing the region, with conflict raging in Gaza and after two days of exploding pagers and other devices in Lebanon, an unprecedented attack the country's Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group has blamed on Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will join his counterparts from Washington's allies in the French capital after discussing the possibility of a Gaza war truce in Cairo.

During his visit, aimed at salvaging stalled negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to end the conflict, he said a cease-fire in Gaza would be the best way to stop violence from spreading across the Middle East.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who said he will attend, added that the group would also discuss the war in Ukraine.

Senior diplomats from the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Italy will meet on Thursday in Paris to discuss the spiralling tensions in the Middle East, sources said on Wednesday.

The meeting will take place as fears grow of an all-out war engulfing the region, with conflict raging in Gaza and after two days of exploding pagers and other devices...