Rubio heads to Qatar after Israel strike
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Qatar this week after a trip to Israel, with heightened tensions in the region following an Israeli attack on Doha targeting Hamas officials.
Israel has threatened follow-up strikes if the U.S. designated-terrorist group is not expelled from the country.
The State Department announced Rubio’s updated travel schedule Monday, coming after two days of meetings in Israel.
The secretary, who also serves as national security adviser, sought to show U.S. solidarity with Israel despite strains between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the strike in Qatar, a major non-NATO ally to the U.S.
But the last minute, back-to-back trips signal the challenge facing the Trump administration in balancing ironclad U.S. support for Israel with anger over its decision to launch a military strike on Qatar without consultation or forewarning to the U.S.
Rubio projected unity with Israel while standing........
© The Hill
