Blinken to visit Israel, other Middle East countries

Published January 4th, 2024 - 06:22 GMT
Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at the "Felipe Angeles" International Airport in Zumpango, State of Mexico, Mexico, on December 27, 2023. (Photo by Rodrigo Oropeza / AFP)

ALBAWABA - Amid rising tension in the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave the United States on Thursday and head to the Middle East.

According to a US official, whose identity wasn't revealed, Blinken is definitely visiting Israel, however, the American official didn't mention other countries the Secretary of State is expecting to visit. 

Taking into consideration that this trip is Blinken's fourth visit to the region since the start of Israel's war in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, in which over 22,000 people were killed, while at least 57,000 have been injured.

AFP reported that the announcement of Blinken's visit to the Middle East came shortly after the twin blasts that rocked Iran's Kerman near the shrine of Qassem Soleimani. 

The explosions, which according to Iranian authorities were due to the result of the remote detonation of two devices, killed at least 103 people and injured 188 others.

Nonetheless, Antony Blinken's visit to Israel came days after the attack that killed senior Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri in Lebanon.

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