Blinken: US Will Respond To Iranian Attack On US Personnel "Decisively"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at a ministerial session of the United Nations Security Council, has called for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid into Gaza, but stopped short of urging Israel to restrain its response to Hamas.

• Blinken: "We all recognise the right, and indeed the imperative, for states to defend themselves against terrorism... and prevent such horror from repeating itself."
• Blinken: "No member of this council could or would tolerate the slaughter of its people... all attacks of terrorism are unlawful and unjustifiable."
• Blinken makes his most forceful comments yet aimed at deterring Iran or its proxies in Lebanon and Syria from entering the conflict, saying a "broader conflict would be devastating."
• Blinken: "In recent weeks, Iran's proxies have repeatedly attacked US personnel in Iraq and Syria... So let me say this... The United States does not seek conflict with Iran," but, "if Iran or its proxies attack US personnel anywhere make no mistake we will defend our people, we will defend our security swiftly and decisively."
• Blinken says he will work with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, expected to arrive in Washington on Thursday, to prevent escalation.