By Ibrahim Khazen
RIYADH (AA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Gaza and Lebanon.
A Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said the top diplomats discussed “regional developments, primarily the situation in Gaza and Lebanon, and the ongoing efforts to address them.”
They also reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries, the statement added.
Blinken arrived in Riyadh early Wednesday from Israel where he held talks with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to revive Gaza cease-fire talks.
"There are two things left to do, get the hostages home and bring the war to an end with an understanding of what will follow,” Blinken told reporters before departing to Saudi Arabia.
The visit is Blinken’s 11th regional tour since the outbreak of Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023 following a Hamas attack.
Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to reach a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed over Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the war.
The Gaza conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country since last month against what it says are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza.
Nearly 2,500 people have been killed and more than 11,860 injured in Israeli attacks since October last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.
Israel expanded the conflict on Oct. 1 by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon.
*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala