Two foreign policy advisers will crisscross the Middle East over the next week to reassure nervous US allies. Photo: ReutersWashington: President Donald Trump’s top two foreign policy advisers will crisscross the Middle East over the next week to reassure nervous US allies after his surprise decision to withdraw troops from Syria and Jim Mattis resignation as defence chief. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will visit eight countries in the Middle East, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, over the course of one week starting Jan. 8, the State Department announced on Friday. More broadly, Israel and many Arab governments are weighing whether Trump is losing patience over the region’s long-standing conflicts, said Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Israel fears Iran is seeking to turn Syria into a launching pad for future attacks against the Jewish state.

Source: Mint January 04, 2019 18:56 UTC