WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement today after returning from a congressional delegation with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Oman:
“My meetings across the region reinforced that the war in Gaza has had profound impacts throughout the Middle East. The coming weeks hold the potential to be either the beginnings of a path to peace or an expansion of conflict regionally. I conveyed to Israeli leaders my grave concerns about the human costs and political consequences of a large-scale ground assault on Rafah and urged them to seriously pursue negotiations for a humanitarian ceasefire and hostage exchange that could lay the foundation for regional progress in reducing conflict. Leaders on all sides must work to end the fighting in Gaza as quickly as possible and immediately increase access to humanitarian aid among Palestinians.
“I am also concerned about the real possibility of a full-blown conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces over the Israel-Lebanon border, which would be devastating for civilians. In Jerusalem and Beirut, I urged leaders to pursue a diplomatic solution that would end border hostilities and allow both Israeli and Lebanese citizens who have been displaced to return safely home. The Lebanese Armed Forces have a critical role to play in moving forward the implementation of peace, and I will support ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in Lebanon.
“During my visit, I was especially glad to meet with important U.S. partners, like King Abdullah II in Jordan and General Joseph Aoun in Lebanon, who have for years worked closely with the United States to uphold regional stability and improve the daily lives and safety of civilians. When I return to Washington, I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues and the Biden administration to support U.S. partners in the region, increase the delivery of vital humanitarian aid and investment in the region’s future, and address pressing security threats in order to stem the growing tide of regional instability.
“Throughout my visit, I made clear that the United States will not tolerate assaults on U.S. troops. Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria in recent months launched many attacks that have already taken the lives of three American soldiers. The United States will not hesitate to respond and protect our troops, as we have done in recent weeks, should those attacks resume. During my meetings in Iraq and Oman, I emphasized our interest in building sustained economic partnerships and continuing to invest in security and development with our longstanding partners in the region. Across the five countries I visited, our partners clearly want more sustained American engagement, and we have real opportunities to advance peace and reduce conflict.
“Lastly, I’d like to thank our ambassadors, diplomats, and everyone who made this trip possible. Our ambassadors in the region – Jack Lew in Israel, Yael Lempert in Jordan, Lisa Johnson in Lebanon, Alina Romanowski in Iraq, and Ana Escrogima in Oman – are serving our nation well at a demanding time and show why it is so important to have confirmed ambassadors around the globe.”
In Israel, Senator Coons met with national leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid. In Jordan, Senator Coons visited with U.S. service members at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and met with King Abdullah II and Chief of Defense Major General Yousef Huneiti. In Lebanon, Senator Coons participated in a roundtable with leaders of U.N. humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Program, UNICEF, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). He also met with government leaders, including caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Joseph Aoun. In Iraq, Senator Coons met with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, National Security Advisor Qassim al-Arraji, and Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbassi as well as with U.S. troops and the Commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Major General Joel Vowell.
Senator Coons is the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.