U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made surprise visits to the West Bank and Iraq on Sunday as the Biden administration faces increasing pressure to mitigate the Israel-Hamas conflict and ease regional tensions. Blinken's unannounced stops followed a summit of Arab leaders in Jordan, where he reassured allies that the U.S. would work to prevent the conflict from spreading and assist Palestinian civilians affected by the crisis. In Baghdad, Blinken held a meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to discuss the safety of U.S. personnel in the region and strengthen the U.S.'s partnership with Iraq. Blinken emphasized that attacks or threats from Iranian-backed militias are unacceptable and that the U.S. will take necessary measures to protect its personnel. The visit to Iraq comes as American forces in the country face a surge in attacks believed to be originating from Iranian-backed militants. Blinken's regional tour aims to reaffirm U.S. commitment to its allies and prevent further escalation of the conflict.