CHANIA, Greece (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the leaders of Turkey and Greece on Saturday during the opening stops of his latest diplomatic mission to the Middle East, as fears grow that Israel's war against Hamas is spreading Gaza could escalate into a larger conflict.
Blinken's fourth visit in three months comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq underline the modestly successful U.S. push to head off a regional conflagration since Hamas' attack on Israel on March 7. October and at the international level have had a heavy impact. Criticism of Israel's military deployment is increasing.
Blinken held talks in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan about what Turkey and others can do to exert influence particularly on Iran and its allies, reduce tensions, speed up the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to begin planning for the reconstruction and administration of the post-war Gaza Strip. Much of the territory was reduced to rubble by Israeli bombardments.
America's top diplomat later stopped in Chania, a port city on the Mediterranean island of Crete, to visit Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at his residence. “These are difficult and challenging times,” Mitsotakis said.
Hours before Blinken's meeting, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel, saying the barrage was an initial response to last week's targeted killing of a top leader of the allied Hamas group in the Lebanese capital, presumably by Israel , been .
Increased attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have disrupted international trade and led to increased efforts by the United States and its allies to patrol the vital commercial waterway and respond to threats. The coalition of countries issued a final warning of sorts to the Houthis on Wednesday to stop their attacks on ships or face possible targeted military action. Since December 19, the militants have carried out at least two dozen attacks in response to the war between Israel and Hamas.
According to U.S. officials, Blinken asked Turkish officials to at least consider possible donations of money or goods for reconstruction in Gaza and participation in security arrangements. Erdogan has sharply criticized Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the conduct of the war and the impact it has had on Palestinian civilians.
Blinken “stressed the need to prevent the spread of conflict … and to work toward a broader, lasting peace that ensures the security of Israel and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state,” the US State Department said in a statement announcing Blinken's meeting with Erdogan was summarized.
Blinken also emphasized the importance the U.S. attaches to Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership, a long-delayed process that the Turks say they will complete soon. Sweden's entry into the alliance is seen as a significant response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A Turkish official said Fidan told Blinken that Israel's “increasing aggression” in Gaza posed a threat to the region, and he called for an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of “uninterrupted” humanitarian aid. Fidan said negotiations on a two-state solution should begin “as soon as possible,” according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issues in the private discussions.
Fidan also said Turkey was awaiting the outcome of its request to upgrade its F-16 fighter fleet and stressed that the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership was in the hands of the Turkish parliament.
Blinken's day ended in Jordan, which, along with Israel, was his most frequent stop on his recent Middle East tours.
He plans to be in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday. Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before concluding the trip in Egypt.
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Associated Press writer Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed to this report.