Macron, Blinken discuss need to de-escalate in Lebanon

French President Emmanuel Macron met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Friday and discussed with him the need to de-escalate in Lebanon and commit to a diplomatic solution that allows the return of residents in northern Israel. According to the US State Department, Blinken and Macron discussed developments in the Middle East, including working to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, return hostages to their homes, and increase humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. They also discussed the need to de-escalate in Lebanon and commit to a diplomatic solution that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes. Blinken had discussed with his French counterpart Stephane Sigourney in Paris the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza to return hostages to their homes and meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Blinken and Sigourney discussed the urgent need to calm tensions in Lebanon and throughout the Middle Ea st. Blinken thanked his French counterpart for hosting the transatlantic five-party meeting in Paris. Source: National Iraqi News Agency