WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Bahrain on Wednesday, said a State Department official. The visit comes as part of Blinken’s ongoing tour of the Middle East, focusing on addressing the current crisis in the region.
Following a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank, Blinken will head to Bahrain for discussions with King Hamad. The talks aim to strategize and prevent a further escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly in Gaza.
Bahrain, a crucial ally of the United States, hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and recently joined a 10-country naval task force established by the US to safeguard the vital Red Sea shipping route.
Blinken’s visit marks his fourth tour of the Middle East since the conflict erupted on October 7 last year.
In a statement on Tuesday, the US Secretary of State expressed concern about the toll the war has taken on civilians in Gaza, emphasizing the need for increased delivery of food and medical aid to the territory.
The health ministry in Gaza said that Israel’s continuous offensive has resulted in the death of 23,200 people, with the majority being women and children.
