This came during was a phone call with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty.

Blinken further outlined the US de-escalation efforts between Israel and Lebanon.

Abdelatty emphasized to Blinken the importance of supporting the Lebanese state, maintaining its stability, and protecting the interests of its people. 

Tensions have been running high between Israel and Hezbollah since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza in October, with a recent rocket attack on the village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights further complicating the situation.

Israel blamed Hezbollah for firing a rocket and killing 12 Syrian children and teenagers in an attack on a football field, threatening to strike hard at the Iran-backed Lebanese group in retaliation.

Blinken also accused Hezbollah of being behind the rocket strike, saying there was "every indication" the group was behind the attack.

Hezbollah has, however, denied any responsibility for the attack.

“The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon firmly denies allegations from enemy media and other sources regarding the targeting of Majdal Shams, confirming that it has no involvement in the incident and rejects all related false claims,” a Hezbollah statement read.

Furthermore, Hezbollah officials informed the United Nations that the strike on Majdal Shams was the result of an Israeli interceptor missile, according to a US official speaking to Axios. 

On Sunday, Cairo warned against the risks of opening a new front of war in Lebanon, urging the international community to intervene immediately to prevent further disastrous consequences from escalating the conflict.

Gaza war

The phone call also tackled the latest development of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing efforts to facilitate ceasefire negotiations and achieve a truce that allows for the exchange of prisoners and detainees.

The two ministers emphasized the need to support the Palestinian Authority.

Abdelatty, for his part, reiterated Egypt's call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and a sustained entry of humanitarian aid.

Egypt’s top diplomat also urged for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause that ensures the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Israel, whose brutal war on Gaza has continued for nearly ten months, is facing mounting international pressure to agree to a Gaza ceasefire

Since the war began on 7 October, Israeli occupation forces have killed 39,400 people, injured 90,996, caused extensive damage to Gaza's infrastructure, and displaced most of the strip’s residents.

Sudan crisis

The call also touched on ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis in Sudan, highlighting the recent invitation for the conflicting parties to participate in ceasefire talks in Switzerland to halt the violence and allow humanitarian aid to Sudan.

In this regard, both sides expressed hope that these efforts would lead to an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and ensure the delivery of relief and humanitarian aid to the Sudanese people.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The conflict has so far resulted in thousands of deaths, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

Egypt has since received thousands of Sudanese refugees fleeing the war and hosted several summits to address the crisis.