US in frantic bid to avert wider Israel war after Iran warning

The US has engaged in back-channel talks with Iran to warn against escalating the conflict between Israel and Hamas, amid concerns that Iran could intervene directly or via Hezbollah. The US has asked Qatar to relay a warning to Hezbollah not to open up a second front in Lebanon’s north. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also reached out to China to seek its influence in containing the situation.