Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his fifth visit to the Middle East
The US is intensifying efforts in the Middle East to end the Gaza war and curb Iranian influence. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his fifth visit to the region, aiming for a sustained pause in fighting and the release of around 130 hostages in Gaza.
The Biden administration is trying to de-escalate the tension. It has shifted its strategy to prioritize the Palestinian issue, seeing it as crucial for stability in the region.
Diplomatic challenges include gaining Israel’s cooperation, maintaining Saudi support, and reforming the Palestinian Authority to better govern the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Blinken’s current trip focuses on laying the groundwork for these diplomatic moves. America is combining diplomacy and military action to exert leverage in a region resistant to previous US initiatives.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the US and British forces intensified air strikes against Iran-backed militias and attacked 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. The strikes came a day after the US hit more than 80 sites in Syria and Iraq.