Blinken back again in the Middle East amid surging fears of regional conflict

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM — As the United States grapples with an increasingly tense and unstable situation in the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to the region this weekend for the fourth time in three months on a tour expected to focus largely on easing resurgent fears that the Israel-Palestine conflict could erupt into a broader conflict.

With international criticism of Israel's operations in Gaza mounting, growing US concerns about the end game, and more immediate worries about a recent explosion in attacks in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq, Blinken would be facing a packed and difficult agenda.

He leaves just days after a suspected Israeli attack that killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh Arouri in Beirut's southern suburbs. Though a White House spokesman said "nobody should be shedding a tear" over his death, it could further complicate Blinken's mission, The Associated Press commented.

Blinken left late on Thursday on his latest extended tour, which will take him to Turkiye, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt.

Since the latest round of the Gaza conflict erupted on Oct 7, the world has been seriously concerned about a potential spread in the conflict.

Two and a half months later, the chances of a regional conflict have increased with Israel determined to strike Hamas operatives and leaders no matter where they are. Meanwhile, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other militias have been stepping up attacks on US and Israeli interests.

Israel's Gaza plan

As with his previous Middle East visits, Blinken would be concentrating on expanding humanitarian aid to Gaza, pressing Israel to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties, pushing for the release of hostages held by Hamas and stressing the importance of planning for the administration of Gaza after the conflict, media reported.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that Palestinians will run civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip, while Israel will maintain security control of the coastal enclave after the current conflict ends.

He outlined the vision of post-conflict Gaza in his daily news conference, saying Israel is going to move into what he referred to as Phase III of the conflict, which would include raids, destruction of "terror" tunnels, aerial and ground activities, and special operations.

But Blinken's agenda has been clouded by other developments in the region.

On Thursday, an armed unmanned surface vessel launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen got within a "couple of miles" of US Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea before detonating, just hours after the White House and a host of partner nations issued a final warning to the Iran-backed militia group to cease the attacks or face potential military action.

And in Baghdad on Thursday, a US airstrike on the headquarters of a militia killed a high-ranking commander, identified as Abu Taqwa, with the Popular Mobilization Force.

Iraqi military spokesman Yehia Rasool said the Iraqi army blames the US-led coalition forces for the "unprovoked attack on an Iraqi security body operating in accordance with the powers granted to it by" the Iraqi military.

Agencies - Xinhua