Rubio Meets with Saudi Counterpart to Discuss Regional Security Challenges
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met in Washington, DC to discuss regional security challenges. The talks focused on cooperation between the two countries on issues such as shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz and escalating hostilities in Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing for years, with the Houthis launching an offensive along the Red Sea coast and striking Saudi Arabia, including airports and oil infrastructure. The US has declined to carry out strikes against the Houthis but agreed to provide intelligence and targeting support.
Rubio also met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who urged Washington to help implement a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement aims to have Israeli forces withdraw from southern areas as the Lebanese army deploys and disarms Hezbollah.