United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that the risk of escalation in the Middle East is "acute," as Israel intensifies its military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Speaking to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers during a UN General Assembly meeting, he insisted on ensuring that Washington is "working tirelessly" to prevent a "full-blown war," according to CNN.

Blinken also discussed ongoing efforts for a Gaza ceasefire, urging all parties to make necessary decisions to finalize the deal. He called on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, members of the GCC, to "deter destabilizing activities from Iran" and stressed the importance of halting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.