Biden will visit Israel on Oct. 18

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirm Washington's "ironclad commitment to its security," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Blinken made the announcement early Tuesday in Tel Aviv following hours of talks with Netanyahu amid growing concern that Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas could turn into a wider and longer regional conflict. After Israel, Biden will travel to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, according to the White House.