Blinken to head to 'Israel' amid regional escalations
3 Min Read
The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is reportedly heading to "Israel" and is set to visit Middle Eastern countries as well, as reports note that US diplomatic envoy Amos Hochstein will also visit "Tel Aviv".
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken deplanes at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in Zumpango, on the outskirts of Mexico City, Wednesday, December 27, 2023. (AP)
Following the terrorist attack in Iran that claimed the lives of 211 nationals and the assassination that claimed the lives of six in Beirut's southern suburb, including Palestinian Resistance leader Saleh al-Arouri, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is set to visit "Israel" on Thursday, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to the official, cited by Reuters, the US Secretary of State will have "stops in a number of capitals, including Israel."
Reuters further cited the official as saying that US diplomatic envoy Amos Hochstein will also visit "Israel" amid "Tel Aviv's" escalation against the Resistance following the assassination al-Arouri in Beirut two days ago.
As for the terrorist attack in Kerman's Iran, the US and "Israel" said denied involvement while Iran vowed revenge.
Earlier, last week, an Axios report, citing Arab and Israeli officials, noted that Blinken could be set for a Middle East tour. The report emphasized that the visit would aim to continue talks regarding the Israeli occupation's genocide in the Gaza Strip, and would include stops in the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar, according to the report.
This will also constitute Blinken's fifth visit to "Tel Aviv" since the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7.
US, 'Israel' discuss shifting phases of war on Gaza: US official
A senior White House official has revealed details behind the meeting that took place between Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, from one side, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US National Security Advisor, from another, during Dermer's visit to Washington on December 26.
During the meeting, the US and Israeli delegations discussed "the transition to a different phase of the [Israeli war on Gaza] to maximize focus on high-value Hamas targets," the official who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed.
Dermer is known to be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest confident, and the visit comes at a time when the Biden administration is looking to change the course of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, according to a report published earlier by Axios.
The US is reportedly pushing the Israeli political command to opt for "surgical operations" within the Gaza Strip, rather than a full-fledged attempt to advance to the cities of the Gaza Strip.
Read more: Dem. Senator lambasts Biden for uncapped transfer of arms to 'Israel'
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
