By Al-Fassel | 2024-08-09

The United States has been working "around the clock" to prevent an escalation of violence in the Middle East, with US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken fully engaged in "intense diplomacy."

"We are engaged in intense diplomacy pretty much around the clock, with a very simple message: All parties must refrain from escalation," Blinken said August 5.

"All parties must take steps to ease tensions," he said. "Escalation is not in anyone’s interests. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity."

"It’s also critical that we break this cycle by reaching a ceasefire in Gaza," he added. "That in turn will unlock possibilities for more enduring calm, not only in Gaza itself but in other areas where the conflict could spread."

Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah have "discussed their efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal," the White House said.

Blinken called top officials in Qatar and Egypt, key mediators in the Israel-Hamas war.

Meanwhile, Lebanon is working to avoid a wider conflict, foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib said August 6.

G7 foreign ministers also called for de-escalation.

"We urge all involved parties once again to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to lower tensions and engage constructively toward de-escalation," an August 5 statement said.

"No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East."

Prepared for 'every possibility'

While the United States works toward de-escalation, it remains prepared for any contingency and remains committed to protecting all of its partners in the region and beyond, US officials said.

"We are preparing for every possibility," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer told ABC News August 2. "The Pentagon is moving significant assets to the region."

"The Department of Defense continues to take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or Iran's partners and proxies," deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers and a new fighter squadron to the region.

The deployment comes after Iran and its allies vowed retaliation for the July 31 killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, hours after Hizbullah's military chief Fuad Shukr was killed in Beirut.