Blinken to meet with leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE with aim to avert larger Middle East war

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Blinken acknowledged the tense situation in the region and expressed concern that the conflict could escalate further. Blinken’s visit to the Middle East follows a series of escalations in the Israel-Hamas war, including the alleged Israeli drone strike that killed a top Hamas commander in Lebanon. The ongoing conflict has led to casualties in Gaza and displacement of the population, prompting calls for more humanitarian aid. The Biden administration has not indicated any change in its support for Israel despite concerns about civilian casualties.