Washington DC, Sep 19: Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, has on Wednesday described the recent drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil plants as an “act of war”, further reiterating the act was an “Iranian attack” – a US allegation to which Tehran reiterated its refusal.
Pompeo made these comments when emplaned for Saudi Arabia’s province of Jeddah on Tuesday. He embarked on an official two-day visit to the Middle East in the midst of heightened tensions in the region following a recent drone assault on Saudi Arabia’s oil plants.
US department of state announced: “Secretary Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), September 17 to 19.”
Pompeo is slated to kick-off his visit Jeddah when he will arrive there on September 18 and meet Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, and hold discussions on the recent terror attack on the Kingdom’s oil plants and make efforts to counter Iranian aggression in the Middle East.
After concluding his trip to Saudi, Pompeo is scheduled to meet Abu Dhabi Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and discuss bilateral, regional and international matters.
The visit to the Middle East comes in the wake of the drone attack on Saudi oil facilities. Moreover, Yemen rebels, Houthi, had claimed the responsibility for the assault.
Also read: Amid Middle East tensions, Mike Pompeo embarks on 2-day visit to Saudi Arabia, UAE post oil attacks