(NewsNation) — United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East for his fifth visit since the start of the Israel-Hamas war amid concerns that the conflict could expand.
On Monday, he met with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince.
His aim is to try and cool tensions in the region, which have been high in the wake of various attacks. Last week, a drone strike launched by Iran-backed militants killed three U.S. soldiers near the Jordan-Syria border, prompting a wave of retaliatory U.S. attacks.
In addition, the United States and British governments have carried out strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to the militant group’s attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
Rishi Sunak, prime minister of the United Kingdom, said that his country is prepared to keep putting pressure on the Houthis and other groups until they yield.
“I’ve been clear that I won’t hesitate to protect British lives, British interests and our diplomatic efforts are focused on bringing de-escalation and stability back to the region,” Sunak said.
Iranian-backed militias, however, have said they have no intention of backing down.
Meanwhile, the White House and some mediators in Qatar and Egypt have said there have been conversations between Israel and Hamas.
Although a hostage deal is not imminent at this point, the secretary is trying to get the ball rolling on those discussions as well as what the Gaza Strip will look like after the war is over.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.