US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said he had a “very productive” meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, a critical diplomatic engagement as Israel prepares to launch a ground offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and Washington seeks to contain the conflict.
“Very productive,” Blinken answered questions from Reuters reporters as he returned to the hotel where the US delegation was staying.
A US official said the meeting lasted less than an hour and took place at the Crown Prince’s private estate.
“The secretary emphasized the United States’ unwavering focus on stopping terrorist attacks by Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and preventing the conflict from escalating,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
“The two reaffirmed their mutual commitment to protecting civilians and to advancing stability throughout the Middle East and beyond,” Miller added.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to his hotel after meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 15. 2023. via REUTERS
A top US diplomat’s meeting on Sunday with the Kingdom’s de-facto ruler comes as the region is on the brink of further escalation with Gaza, a tiny coastal enclave home to 2.3 million Palestinians, bracing for an Israeli ground offensive.
Blinken has embarked on his most extensive trip yet to the Middle East, working with Arab allies to prevent the war from spiraling into a wider conflict and helping free hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants.
Israel has vowed to destroy the militant group Hamas in retaliation for attacks by its fighters on Israeli cities eight days ago in which militants shot dead men, women and children and took hostages in the worst attacks on civilians in the country’s history.
Blinken has held meetings with various leaders in the region in hopes of preventing any escalation of the war in Israel and Gaza. AP Blinken said his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was very productive.”AFP via Getty Images
Late Saturday, Iran warned of “far-reaching consequences” if the Israeli bombardment did not stop.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also told the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which neighbors Israel to the north, not to start a war on a second front, threatening the “destruction of Lebanon” if it did.
Blinken began his tour on Thursday in Israel, voicing strong US support for Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East in its war against Hamas.
Since then, he has visited Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. He made a short visit to the United Arab Emirates and returned to Riyadh to meet the Crown Prince late on Saturday, although the meeting only materialized on Sunday morning.
He is expected to leave for Egypt later on Sunday.
Gaza authorities say more than 2,300 people have been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded.
Rescue workers search for survivors of a night airstrike. One million people are reported to have left their homes.
Blinken on Saturday met Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan in Riyadh.
Before their meeting, Blinken said protecting civilians on both sides of the conflict was important.
“And we are working together to do that, especially to create safe areas in Gaza, working to create corridors so that humanitarian aid can reach the people who need it.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
