US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Wednesday the foreign ministers of Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey following Iran's attacks on the Mideast countries, Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a series of statements.
Rubio and Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos discussed the recent developments in Iran and the broader Middle East region after an Iranian drone targeted a British military base in Cyprus over the weekend. The two leaders also affirmed the countries' strong alliance, said Pigott.
Following the attack, the UK, France, and Greece pledged to send military assistance to the island, including counter-drone capabilities and F-16 fighter jets.
In his talk with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Rubio expressed gratitude for the country's response to an attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The embassy caught on fire after being attacked by two suspected Iranian drones, according to the Saudi Defense Ministry. Following the attack, the ministry reported interceptions of eight drones near the cities of Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
Rubio and bin Farhan discussed the continued threats the Iranian regime poses to regional stability, as well as other developments in the region.
US pledges support to Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also in contact with Rubio, who pledged full support from the US and said that "attacks on Turkey's sovereign territory were unacceptable," according to Pigott. Both leaders reiterated the continued strength of the bilateral relationship.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defenses intercepted on Wednesday an Iranian missile bound for Turkey, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry.
The incident marks the first time that NATO member Turkey, Iran's neighbor to the northwest, has been drawn into the expanding conflict in the Middle East.