Blinken Heads to Middle East After Attacks in Red Sea, Iran

Trip from Turkey and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Israel and Greece
Not expecting every conversation ‘to be easy,’ spokesman says

WATCH: Blinken’s visit takes place as shockwaves from the Israel-Hamas war spread from the Red Sea to Lebanon and Iran. Bloomberg’s Sylvia Westall reports.Source: Bloomberg

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By Iain Marlow

January 4, 2024 at 5:42 PM UTC

Updated on

January 5, 2024 at 7:27 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for his fourth trip to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, as part of US efforts to counter growing risks of a broader regional conflict.

The top US diplomat will travel to Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel, with a visit to the West Bank and an additional stop in Greece, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday.