???? Live: Blinken calls on Israel to avoid Lebanon escalation in meeting with Israel defense minister
![???? Live: Blinken calls on Israel to avoid Lebanon escalation in meeting with Israel defense minister](https://s.france24.com/media/display/1ebef670-32ac-11ef-aa94-005056bfb2b6/w:1024/p:16x9/000_34WF4JX.jpg)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel during a Monday meeting with its defense minister to avoid further escalation in Lebanon as they discussed efforts to reach a deal to free hostages in Gaza.