Top US diplomat Antony Blinken will begin a new Middle East trip this week, a spokesperson has announced, as President Joe Biden seeks “urgent mechanisms” to reduce regional tensions over the Israel-Hamas war, according to AFP.

“Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, without further details.

The White House said later that Biden had spoken on Tuesday with the leader of key US partner Jordan, where Blinken has visited multiple times since Hamas launched its October 7 attack on Israel.