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Added on the 08/05/2023 20:19:28 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon his arrival for the Arab League summit in Jeddah. IMAGES
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked China's foreign minister and other counterparts to use their influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel, the State Department says. Blinken spoke by telephone to his Chinese, Turkish, Saudi and European counterparts "to make clear that escalation is not in anyone's interest and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
The United States condemns recent Iranian strikes in Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, which Tehran has claimed were carried out against "anti-Iranian terrorist groups." "We do condemn those strikes. We've seen Iran violate the sovereign borders of three of its neighbors in just the past couple of days," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave Thursday on a trip to five Arab countries, the West Bank, Turkey and Greece, in addition to a previously announced stop in Israel, the State Department says. Blinken among other issues will "discuss immediate measures to increase substantially humanitarian assistance to Gaza," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Jeddah, as his country was welcomed back to the Arab League after more than a decade of suspension. IMAGES