Sisi Tells Blinken That Egypt Opposes Escalation, Backs Lebanon Following Blasts 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Egypt, September 18, 2024. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Egypt, September 18, 2024. (Reuters)
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Sisi Tells Blinken That Egypt Opposes Escalation, Backs Lebanon Following Blasts 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Egypt, September 18, 2024. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Egypt, September 18, 2024. (Reuters)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Cairo rejects any attempts at escalation in the region and supports Lebanon following the pager blasts, the Egyptian presidency said on Wednesday. 

At least nine people were killed and nearly 3,000 wounded when pagers used by Hezbollah members detonated simultaneously across Lebanon on Tuesday. 

"The President affirmed Egypt's rejection of attempts to escalate the conflict and expand its scope regionally, pointing out the need for all parties to act responsibly, and reaffirming Egypt's support for Lebanon", the statement added. 

Blinken is visiting Egypt hoping to advance efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and strengthen ties with Cairo. 



Jordan Says Israel Pushing Middle East to Brink of Regional War

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a press conference, in Amman, Jordan September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a press conference, in Amman, Jordan September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni
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Jordan Says Israel Pushing Middle East to Brink of Regional War

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a press conference, in Amman, Jordan September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a press conference, in Amman, Jordan September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni

Israel is pushing the whole Middle East to the brink of regional conflict by maintaining a dangerous escalation on several fronts, Jordan's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

In remarks after an Islamic and Arab ministerial contact group meeting in Amman to lobby for a Gaza ceasefire, Ayman Safadi said peace would not prevail without a two-state solution.

Safadi has kept the foreign ministry portfolio in a new Jordanian cabinet named on Wednesday.

Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 41,272 Palestinians and wounded 95,551 since Oct. 7, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said on Wednesday.