WASHINGTON, July 18 (RIA Novosti) – US President Barack Obama discussed Friday with Secretary of State John Kerry and other high-ranking officials the crash of the Malaysian Boeing over Ukraine and the launch of a ground assault in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military, White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest said.
“Upon arrival in New York City, the President convened a call with Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the tragic loss of the Malaysian Airlines flight earlier today. They also discussed recent developments in Israel and Gaza,” Earnest said adding that following the conversation with Kerry Obama also held a secure conference on Ukraine with senior members of his national security team.
“The President was briefed on our ongoing efforts to support the Ukrainian government and a prompt international investigation into what took place. The President directed his national security team to continue offering whatever assistance is necessary to advance the international effort to determine what happened,” according to the White House spokesperson.
CIA Director John Brennan, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Stephanie O'Sullivan, Deputy National Security Adviser Lisa Monaco and Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes took part in the conference.
280 passengers and 15 crew members died as a Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed Thursday near the town of Torez in Ukraine’s Donetsk Region. It has not been determined yet what caused the accident.
In a separate development of events, the Israeli military announced Thursday the beginning of a ground offensive in the Gaza strip aimed at destroying tunnels dug by Hamas rebels under the joint border.
The operation follows ten-day intense fighting that has claimed the lives of hundreds of people, mostly on the Palestinian side.
