Blinken says he is trying to confirm reports of multiple Americans dead in Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on Sunday that he is working to verify reports that multiple Americans have died and are missing in Israel following the Hamas attack. 

“We have reports that several Americans were killed. We’re working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we’re working to verify those reports,” Blinken told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”

Israeli soldiers fought Hamas militants in the streets of several southern cities on Sunday while repelling a rocket attack from Hezbollah terrorists in the north as America’s closest ally in the Middle East formally declared it was at war for the first time in a half century.

Israel's security cabinet officially declared war Saturday night, the first such declaration since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

Israeli troops were still trying to free dozens of hostages taken by the Hamas militants during a surprise attack that began Saturday morning during a Jewish holiday celebration.

Blinken also told CNN that new aid to Israel could be announced soon. 

“We’re looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made – I think you’re likely to hear more about that later today,” he told the outlet. 

President Joe Biden made a speech yesterday that the U.S. stands with Israel and that the country has a right to defend itself.