The secretary of state is making his 10th visit to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 attacks. Until now, he has met with officials in Israel each time.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Egypt on Wednesday but his visit to the region will notably omit a stop in Israel, amid rising doubts that a ceasefire and hostage deal can be agreed to before President Joe Biden leaves office.

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate against the Houthi movement after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel on Sunday morning.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hopes to advance efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and strengthen ties with Egypt when he visits Cairo on Wednesday, his spokesman said, amid concern about escalating Middle East tensions.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Cairo on Wednesday to try to salvage efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza that have been further complicated by a wave of deadly blasts targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.