Top UK, Saudi diplomats discuss bilateral ties, regional developments

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in London to talk bilateral relations as well as the situation in the Middle East.

Lammy wrote on X that he is pleased to welcome his Saudi counterpart to London to discuss the growing UK-Saudi partnership.

"We'll work together on shared defence, economic & security interests, including pressing for de-escalation in the region and a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza," he added.

Tensions are running high in the Mideast following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran and Israel's assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike near Beirut a day earlier.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, while Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

Iran vowed "harsh punishment" for Israel for Haniyeh’s killing on Iranian soil.

The escalation comes amid an ongoing Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and injured over 92.,000 following an attack last Oct. 7 by Palestinian resistance group Hamas that killed 1,139 Israelis.