The US secretary of state will visit Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from February 15-18 as part of a six-day trip focused on Israel, Gaza and Iran’s “destabilising activities”, the US State Department says, according to Al Jazeera.

“Freeing Americans and all other hostages from Hamas captivity, advancing to Phase II of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and countering the destabilizing activities of the Iranian regime and its proxies” will be the main focus of the trip, the office said in a statement.

His “engagements with senior officials will promote US interests in advancing regional cooperation, stability, and peace”, it added.

Rubio will first travel to Munich on Thursday where he will participate in the Munich Security Conference and the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.