Two of President Biden’s top aides headed to the Middle East Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to broker an Israel-Hamas cease-fire and hostage deal and ensure a smooth transition of power in Syria.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was planning to stop in Israel, Qatar and Egypt over the coming days, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to visit Jordan and Turkey, according to US officials.
The two Biden administration officials will try to push for a deal that ends the 14-month war in Gaza — and secure the release of the remaining hostages being held captive by Hamas terrorists.
Sullivan was set to meet with the families of the remaining American hostages being held in Gaza before traveling to Israel.
Also high on the agenda during the Middle East trip is the future of Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad at the hands of opposition militia after 13 years of civil war.
Blinken will “reiterate the United States’ support for an inclusive, Syrian-led transition to an accountable and representative government,” the State Department said in a statement.
The high-level tours to the turbulent Middle East come just weeks before Biden’s term concludes and President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
It remains unclear, though, whether Biden has enough leverage in the region to secure major deals before he leaves office.
Biden administration officials have said they are keeping Trump’s aides updated on their diplomatic efforts but insisted they are not coordinating directly with the incoming administration.
Trump, on his part, warned last week there would be “hell to pay” in the Middle East if hostages held in Gaza weren’t freed before his Jan. 20 inauguration.
With Post wires
