Sullivan to visit Israel for talks on Gaza cease-fire, Syria, Lebanon

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel this week to discuss key issues, including cease-fire efforts in Gaza, developments in Syria, and the situation in Lebanon, his spokesperson announced Monday.

“Sullivan is traveling to Israel this week to meet with Israeli officials as part of our close consultations on a range of important issues, including efforts to reach a hostage release and cease-fire deal in Gaza, the latest developments in Syria, and discussions about Lebanon and Iran,” National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement.

Sullivan’s visit follows a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Last month, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would make “another push” with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and others to secure a cease-fire and hostage exchange deal in Gaza.

“Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement,” Biden said on Nov. 26.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army on Sunday to capture the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, an area under Israeli occupation for decades. Images released by the Israeli military showed soldiers and armored vehicles in the buffer zone, further consolidating Israel’s hold on the region.

Assad fled Syria to Russia after anti-regime groups seized the capital, Damascus, early Sunday, marking the collapse of the Baath Party regime, which had ruled Syria since 1963.