The top US diplomat departed Riyadh shortly after sunrise for what is set to be a marathon day visiting Egypt and Qatar before flying to Israel to discuss hostage negotiations, post-conflict Gaza plans and the prospect of Arab countries and Israel normalizing ties.

Blinken's fifth trip to the region since October comes as the United States presses ahead with its retaliatory campaign against militia which had attacked last month and killed US troops in a military outpost in Jordan.

Washington sees a possible truce to free remaining hostages Hamas kidnapped on Oct. 7 and pause fighting in Gaza as key to progress on other challenges, such as the governance of post-conflict Gaza, a path towards Palestinian statehood and a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalize their relationship.