United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Washington on matters of regional security and stability. The meeting addressed cooperation on multiple fronts, including developments in Iran, Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, as well as efforts to maintain freedom of navigation through critical international waterways.
A central focus of the talks involved the situation in Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthis have intensified military operations along the Red Sea coast and targeted Saudi Arabian infrastructure including airports and oil facilities. The diplomats also discussed the importance of protecting shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which both officials characterized as essential to regional stability and global trade. The meeting followed reports that Saudi leadership had requested additional US military support against the Houthis, though Washington indicated it would provide intelligence and targeting assistance rather than conducting direct strikes.
Separately, Rubio met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who emphasized the need for concrete implementation of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement, signed in June, calls for a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanese territory while the Lebanese military deploys and works to disarm Hezbollah. Salam stressed the importance of establishing clear timelines and verification mechanisms to ensure both parties fulfill their obligations, noting that progress has stalled despite initial military deployments.
The Lebanese leader also appealed for expanded US and international support for humanitarian relief, reconstruction efforts, and assistance for displaced persons. Salam emphasized that strengthening the Lebanese armed forces through continued aid remained a priority for his government as it worked to consolidate state control over weapons and territory.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI