U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed frustration over recent escalations, particularly a deadly pager explosion linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon that killed at least 12 people, which threaten to derail ongoing cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Speaking in Cairo, Blinken emphasized the importance of calm as international mediators, including the U.S. and Egypt, work to secure a cease-fire after nearly a year of conflict. He noted that incidents like the explosions complicate the delicate discussions, which include a potential hostage exchange. While Israel has not confirmed its involvement in the explosions, a U.S. official indicated that Israel had communicated with the U.S. following the attacks. Blinken reiterated that the U.S. is still gathering information on the situation and urged all parties to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions further. The overall goal remains to stabilize the region and prevent further violence, especially amid threats from Israeli leaders to increase military actions against Hezbollah.