Biden Aides Engage in Middle East Diplomacy Over Syria and Gaza
Biden Aides Engage in Middle East Diplomacy Over Syria and Gaza
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan on December 12, 2024
- Blinken’s visit is focused on urging an inclusive process to form Syria’s next government
- Blinken would stress the need for Syria to not be a breeding ground for terrorism
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan on December 12, 2024, launching a diplomatic tour across the Middle East after the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Blinken’s visit is focused on urging an inclusive process to form Syria’s next government while ensuring protection for minority groups.
His first stop was in the Red Sea city of Aqaba, where he met with King Abdullah II before heading to Turkiye later in the day.
Blinken’s visit comes days after opposition forces, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly linked to al-Qaeda, launched a swift offensive that ended more than five decades of the Assad family’s brutal rule.
The State Department confirmed that Blinken would stress the need for Syria to not be a breeding ground for terrorism or a threat to neighboring countries, reflecting concerns from both Israel and Turkiye.
Following Assad’s departure to Russia on Sunday, Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes on Syria, targeting airports
