Rubio visits Saudi Arabia as Israel, Hamas move closer to end of first phase of ceasefire
Voice of America
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 17, 2025. Palestinians sit amidst the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Feb. 16, 2025.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of a tour of the region that includes a focus on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
A room is seen at Tavaksay colony, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Dec. 22, 2019. (Navbahor Imamova/VOA)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, right and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are seen after meeting with Russian officials, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2025.
North Korean defectors stage a rally denouncing the deportation of North Korean fishermen in Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 12, 2019. The sign reads: "Apologize for the government of Moon Jae-in who deported the defectors."
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gestures during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 17, 2025.
FILE - An interior view shows a pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium near the city of Atyrau, Kazakhstan, Oct. 12, 2017. A Ukrainian drone damaged a CPC pumping station in southern Russia, reducing oil flows by 30%-40%, Russian officials said.
Acting head of the Constitutional Court Moon Hyung-bae and other judges arrive for the impeachment trial of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Feb.18, 2025. Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer for South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives for the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul, South Korea, Feb.18, 2025.
Map showing location of White Nile state, Sudan.
An undated photo released by the family of Craig and Lindsay Foreman through Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London on Feb. 15, 2025, shows the couple at an unknown location. The UK government on Saturday named the two detained in Iran as the Foremans.
Bankole Adeoye, center, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, explains the African Union's position on conflicts on the continent during a press conference at the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 16, 2025.
Workers clean pavilion seats on the eve of the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and New Zealand at National Stadium in Karachi on Feb. 18, 2025. Pakistan's Babar Azam attends a practice session at National Stadium in Karachi on Feb. 16, 2025, ahead of his team's Champions Trophy cricket match against New Zealand. A Pakistani police commando stands guard outside the National Stadium in Karachi on Feb. 17, 2025. The International Cricket Council Champions Trophy begins on Feb. 19. Workers install a screen at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ahead of the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy matches in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on Feb. 17, 2025.
Vietnam's President Luong Cuong, Vietnam's communist party general secretary To Lam, Vietnam's PM Pham Minh Chinh and others attend the National Assembly's extraordinary session opening in Hanoi, Feb. 12, 2025.
Reporters stand in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Feb. 18, 2025, where Pope Francis has been hospitalized to undergo some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his ongoing treatment for bronchitis.
An Israeli army Merkava main battle tank is deployed by the concrete border wall at a position along Israel's northern border with Lebanon on Feb. 18, 2025.