Blinken's Surprise Visit to Iraq

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq, meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and discussing the threat posed by Iranian-backed militias. Blinken emphasized that attacks against US personnel are unacceptable and reiterated the US commitment to protecting its personnel and military facilities. They also discussed preventing the conflict in Gaza from spreading further in the region. Blinken's visit to Iraq is part of his broader trip to the Middle East, which includes stops in Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, Cyprus, and Turkey.