Feb. 8 (UPI) — The White House said Thursday Jordan’s King Abdullah II will meet with President Joe Biden in Washington Feb. 12 for talks on how to deepen relations and create a vision for a durable peace as the Gaza war continues.
The two leaders, the White House said in a statement, will “discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza and efforts to produce an enduring end to the crisis.”
To that end, the White House added, “the two leaders will discuss U.S. effort to support the Palestinian people including through enhanced humanitarian assistance into Gaza and a vision for a durable peace to include a two-state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed.”
As that visit was announced Iraq reacted to the deadly U.S. strike in Baghdad done in response to an attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan that killed three U.S. soldiers.
Iraq called the U.S. strike that reportedly killed a top Hezbollah commander responsible for the U.S. soldier deaths “a clear aggression and violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”
The U.S. military Central Command said the Baghdad strike killed the senior commander of Kataib Hezbollah, but Iraq said those killed were Popular Mobilization Forces leaders. That’s an Iraq-sponsored security group that includes several U.S.-designated terrorists.
Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris met privately with King Abdullah last February at the White House, re-affirming “the close, enduring nature” of the United States-Jordan friendship.
At that meeting with Abdullah, Biden affirmed strong support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while recognizing Jordan’s role as custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem.
The White House said Jordan and the United States this year are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations.
