An escalation in tensions in the Middle East over the detonation of Hezbollah pagers threatened to overshadow U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's latest regional diplomacy push, as he met senior Egyptian officials on Wednesday hoping to advance efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and improve ties with Cairo.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is focusing on brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and strengthening U.S.-Egypt relations during his visit to Cairo. Amid heightened Middle East tensions, Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and officials to discuss proposals for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostages' release.

In Cairo on Sept. 18, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reacted to pager explosions in Lebanon, saying any violence could complicate cease-fire talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday warned against the risk of escalation in the Middle East after the detonation of thousands of Hezbollah pagers threatened to derail his latest regional diplomacy push.

Blinken spoke to reporters in Cairo, where he traveled for talks on the cease-fire negotiations and U.S.-Egyptian relations. While Israel has not publicly spoken on responsibility in the pager attack,