5th Middle East tour of US Secretary of State seeks to push for Gaza ceasefire deal

New Delhi, Feb 5: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on his fifth visit to the Middle Eastern countries since October 7, with scheduled stops in Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the West Bank over the next five days.

The visit follows recent US strikes against Houthi missiles in Yemen and air strikes targeting Iran-backed forces in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, triggered by an attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that claimed three American soldiers’ lives.

Media reports indicate a potential rift between Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly concerning the future of Gaza post-war. Blinken emphasises the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, making a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas a top priority during his agenda.

Simultaneously, the U.S. military announces strikes against a land-attack cruise missile and four anti-ship missiles in the Red Sea on Sunday, preventing their launch against ships. The U.S. continues to target Houthi positions in Yemen in response to repeated attacks on ships in the Red Sea, by the Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group.

To disrupt trade with Israel and its allies amid the Gaza conflict, Houthis' attacks on ships in the Red Sea impacted Egypt's Suez Canal revenue, falling nearly by half in January. Global supply chains face severe disruption as major shipping companies divert routes away from the Red Sea.

On the ground, clashes between Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters persist in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The Hamas-run health ministry reports dozens of casualties, underscoring the ongoing human toll in the region.

The Gaza health ministry cites over 27,000 fatalities in Gaza since Israel's campaign began in October, initiated in response to a Hamas assault on southern Israel that resulted in approximately 1,300 deaths and over 240 kidnappings.