{"id":2091350,"date":"2023-11-05T19:59:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T00:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-secretary-of-state-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq\/"},"modified":"2023-11-05T20:02:15","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T01:02:15","slug":"us-secretary-of-state-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-secretary-of-state-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"US Secretary of State&#8217;s Unexpected Trip to Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-secretary-of-state-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2091350&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>U.S. Secretary of\u2064 State Antony Blinken Visits Iraq \u2063Amid Middle\u200b East Tensions<\/h2>\n<p>In a surprising move, U.S. Secretary of \u2064State Antony Blinken made an unexpected \u200cvisit \u200dto Iraq on Sunday as part of his tour in the \u200dMiddle East. His aim is to deescalate\u200d tensions following the recent outbreak of the Israel\u2013Hamas conflict.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Earlier in the day, Blinken visited the West Bank and held a meeting with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud\u200d Abbas. According to a readout from the U.S. State Department, he later \u2063traveled to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi\u2062 Prime\u2062 Minister Mohammed al-Sudani.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The discussions between Blinken and al-Sudani focused on\u200c the Israel-Hamas conflict and the importance of preventing its spread, including in Iraq. They also emphasized the need for continued coordination with Iraq and other regional partners to ensure access \u200dto\u200d essential resources like food, water, and medical care for humanitarian purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Blinken also\u2062 urged the Iraqi leader to \u200chold\u200c accountable those \u200cresponsible for ongoing attacks\u200b on U.S. personnel in Iraq and fulfill Iraq&#8217;s commitment to protect all installations hosting U.S. \u2063personnel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Speaking to reporters, Blinken described \u2063his discussions with Iraq&#8217;s leader as &#8220;good&#8221; and &#8220;productive.&#8221; He emphasized that the United States will take necessary measures to protect its personnel \u200band military facilities, condemning attacks by \u200bIran-aligned militias as\u200c unacceptable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/speaker-johnson-defends-israel-aid-package-amid-senate-white-house-criticism-5523401?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">Speaker Johnson Defends \u2064Israel Aid Package Amid Senate, White House Criticism<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">11\/5\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/speaker-johnson-defends-israel-aid-package-amid-senate-white-house-criticism-5523401?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" https:><\/source><\/picture><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/blinken-urges-protections-for-civilians-in-gaza-on-visit-to-israel-amid-fears-war-could-widen-5522448?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">Israel Resists US Pressure to Pause the War to\u2063 Allow \u200dMore Aid to Gaza,\u200c Wants Hostages Back First<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">11\/3\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/blinken-urges-protections-for-civilians-in-gaza-on-visit-to-israel-amid-fears-war-could-widen-5522448?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" https:><\/source><\/picture><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken exchanges challenge coins with the U.S. Marine Corps embassy security guard detachment in Baghdad, Iraq, on Nov.\u2062 5, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst\/Pool\/AFP via Getty \u200cImages)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Currently, there are hundreds of troops stationed in both Iraq and\u2064 Syria. In response to \u2064the \u2064attacks and the Israel conflict, the Pentagon has announced the deployment of several hundred more troops to the region.<\/p>\n<p>Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed \u2063terrorist group, issued a \u200cwarning that Blinken&#8217;s visit would lead to an unprecedented escalation.<\/p>\n<p>According to U.S.\u2063 defense \u200bofficials, there has been an increase\u200c in rocket and drone attacks on U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria since the deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7. Iraqi armed groups aligned with\u200d Iran have threatened to target U.S. interests with missiles and drones\u2064 if the United States supports \u200dIsrael against Hamas in Gaza.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>  An Israeli army armored tracked vehicle moves \u2064near a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-director-warns-hamas-could-inspire-terrorist-attacks-inside-us\/\" title=\"FBI Chief cautions about potential US attacks inspired by Hamas.\">stationed artillery howitzer<\/a> \u2062at a position along the border with the Gaza\u2064 Strip in southern Israel on Oct. 31, 2023. (Jack Guez\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Prime Minister al-Sudani\u200c has pledged to pursue the perpetrators of \u2064rocket attacks on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-secretary-of-state-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq\/\" title=\"US Secretary of State's Unexpected Trip to Iraq\">military bases hosting international coalition advisers<\/a> in Iraq. These bases include\u2063 Ain al-Asad in western Iraq, a \u200bmilitary base near Baghdad&#8217;s international airport, and Harir in the northern \u200cIraqi city of Erbil.<\/p>\n<p>Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terrorist group backed by \u200dIran, has launched strikes \u200con northern \u2064Israel. Its leader, \u200cSayyed Hassan Nasrallah, warned \u200dthat preventing a regional conflict depends on stopping Israeli retaliation against Hamas. He also mentioned the possibility of the fighting in Lebanon turning into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ukrainian-complaints-show-definition-of-imminent-had-nothing-to-do-with-joe-biden-debacle\/\" title=\"Ukrainian Complaints Show Definition of 'Imminent' Had Nothing to Do with Joe Biden Debacle\">full-fledged war<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During his visit to\u200c Israel&#8217;s West Bank, Blinken and \u2064Abbas primarily discussed humanitarian \u2063concerns, emphasizing the United States&#8217; commitment to delivering life-saving\u2064 assistance and \u2062resuming essential services in Gaza. They also stressed the importance of preventing forced displacement\u2064 of Palestinians.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Blinken expressed\u2063 concerns that a ceasefire would allow Hamas to regroup and launch another attack. The United States advocates for pauses in humanitarian aid to Gaza and for \u200bpeople to leave the region.<\/p>\n<p>Later on Sunday, Blinken will travel to Turkey, \u2062where protests have already \u2064begun. Several top officials\u200b in Turkey, \u200da NATO member, have condemned Israel&#8217;s military operation in Gaza.\u2064 Prior to the talks in Ankara, police used tear gas and \u2063water cannons to disperse hundreds of people attempting to \u2062storm an air \u200bbase housing U.S. troops.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<em>Reuters contributed to this \u200breport.<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What \u2064is the purpose of U.S. Secretary of State Antony\u2064 Blinken&#8217;s visit to Iraq?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2064 N-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px&#8221;><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>    U.S. Secretary of State Antony \u2063Blinken \u2064exchanges challenge \u2064coins with the U.S. \u200bMarine Corps embassy \u2063security guard detachment in Baghdad, \u2062Iraq, \u2062on Nov.\u2062 5, 2023. \u2062(Jonathan Ernst\/Pool\/AFP via \u2063Getty \u200c\u200cImages)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The visit of U.S. \u2064Secretary of State Antony \u2063Blinken\u2064 to\u2064 Iraq comes at \u200ba\u200d crucial \u200ctime \u2064in the Middle East, with tensions running high due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Blinken&#8217;s unexpected visit is aimed\u200c at deescalating the situation and fostering\u2064 dialogue with\u200c regional partners.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in \u200cthe day,\u200b Blinken met with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud\u2064 Abbas \u200din the West Bank, discussing \u200dthe current conflict and its potential consequences for the region.\u200c Following this meeting, he traveled\u200c to Baghdad to hold \u2062talks\u2064 with Iraqi \u200dPrime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani.<\/p>\n<p>The discussions between Blinken and al-Sudani centered around \u2064the \u200bIsrael-Hamas \u200bconflict and the need to prevent its further\u2062 spread, \u2064including within Iraq. Both leaders\u2064 emphasized the \u2063importance \u2063of \u200bcontinued\u2063 coordination with Iraq and other regional\u2063 partners to\u200b ensure access to essential \u2062resources such \u200bas \u2064food, water, \u2063and medical care for humanitarian purposes.<\/p>\n<p>During\u2062 the meeting, \u2063Blinken also urged \u2062the Iraqi\u2063 leader to take\u200d appropriate action against those responsible for \u2064ongoing attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq, \u2062as well as fulfill Iraq&#8217;s commitment to protect all installations hosting U.S. personnel.<\/p>\n<p>In a press conference following the talks, Blinken\u200c described the discussions\u200b as &#8220;good&#8221; and &#8220;productive.&#8221; He reiterated the\u2063 United States&#8217; commitment to the safety\u2063 of its personnel and military facilities, condemning attacks by Iran-aligned\u2063 militias as unacceptable.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200bpresence of U.S. troops in Iraq\u200b and Syria has \u2064been reinforced as a response to the recent attacks and the\u200b Israel conflict. The Pentagon has announced the deployment of several hundred additional troops \u200cto the\u2062 region.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u200cBlinken&#8217;s \u2064visit has not been without \u2064controversy. Kataib Hezbollah, an\u2062 Iran-backed terrorist group, issued a warning<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unexpected visit to Iraq on Sunday as part of his Middle East tour to ease tensions after the Israel-Hamas conflict. Prior to that, he met with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. A statement was released detailing the discussions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":2091351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2091350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2091350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2091350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2091351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2091350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2091350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2091350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}