Middle East tensions: US State Secretary Antony Blinken dials GCC counterparts

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as the country’s foreign minister, spoke by phone to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The two discussed continuing work towards a ceasefire in Gaza, Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Blinken followed this up with a call to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. The two spoke of the importance of a Gaza ceasefire deal, the State Department said.

Additionally, Blinken spoke to the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan as diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, release hostages and increase humanitarian assistance, the US’s State Department said on Friday.

The string of calls come after the recent increase in tensions across the region as Israel confirmed the targeting of a Hezbullah leader in Lebanon and a Hamas chief in Iran. Qatar, Egypt, and the US have acted as mediators seeking a ceasefire in the Gaza crisis.

Airlines suspend flights

The ratcheting up of tensions in recent days have led to international airlines suspending flights to Lebanon’s capital Beirut.

The UAE’s Emirates Airline, on Wednesday, said customers who transit through Dubai on their way to Beirut will not be accepted for travel on Thursday and Friday, the latest airline to alter services to the Lebanese capital in recent days amid rising regional tensions.

Emirates and flyDubai join a number of other carriers that have suspended, delayed, or cancelled flights. 

Air India is the latest to announce that it is suspending operations to Tel Aviv, Israel.

ANNOUNCEMENT

In view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have suspended scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect up to and including 08 August 2024. We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support…

— Air India (@airindia) August 2, 2024

Air France-KLM on Wednesday extended the suspension of flights between Paris and Beirut until at least August 3 and said customers with flights booked before and up to August 11 can cancel or move back flights free of charge.

Read: Emirates, flyDubai latest airlines to amend Beirut flights