Antony Blinken arrives in Israel as US looks to renew ceasefire efforts

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Tuesday on his eleventh visit to the region since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Washington hopes to revive cease-fire efforts after the killing of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, but so far all the warring parties appear to be digging in.

Meanwhile, Lebanese health ministry said at least 18 people were killed, including four children, and 60 were wounded in an Israeli strike on Monday near Beirut’s main government hospital. Israeli jets hit a Hezbollah target close to the Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut but did not target the hospital and it was not affected by the strike, the Israeli military said on Tuesday.

Israel is still at war with Hamas and Hezbollah. Blinken landed just hours after Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel, setting off air raid sirens in the country’s most populated areas, but causing no apparent damage or injuries. His meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu stretched for more two hours on Tuesday afternoon. The US State Department said Blinken would focus on ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas.