Egypt fully supports Lebanon against any Israeli aggression

CAIRO – 16 August 2024: Egypt fully supports Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty and rejects any Israeli aggression on southern Lebanon, said Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Badr Abdelatty on Friday.

The Egyptian Minister, who is visiting Beirut where he met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Lebanese Prime Minister Nabil Mikati, added that the main reason for the conflict in the Middle East is the absence of a solution to the Palestinian cause.

Abdelatty added that Lebanon’s security and stability are an Arab and Egyptian joint interest, affirming Egypt’s efforts to stop the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.

The Minister highlighted Egypt's ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza as a key to de-escalating the situation. He also affirmed Egypt's position aimed at preventing the expansion of the conflict and the outbreak of a regional war that would push the entire region into unprecedented tension and instability.

Abdelatty departed for Beirut on Friday as part of efforts to provide support to Lebanon amidst the current challenges it is facing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the visit also aims to mitigate the escalating tensions in the region.

Cairo spares no effort in its contacts at the bilateral level with the five-member committee on Lebanon to resolve the presidential vacancy crisis as soon as possible, Abdelatty continued.

Since October 8, 2024, limited military confrontations between Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces have erupted, one day after the launch of the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation by Hamas against Israelis in the Palestinian-occupied lands and resulted in the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza. Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah announced in November 2023 that the group had entered the war to support the Hamas fighters against the Israeli occupation forces.

However, the conflict is likely to turn into a severe regional war after Israeli committed a series of assassinations against Hezbollah leaders, recently of whom is the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah Fouad Shokr (aka Abu Mohesen), and against head of the Hamas’ political bureau Ismail Haniyeh.

Iran, Hezbollah and the Iraqi Army vowed revenge for those who were killed by Israel. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said that Israel whoever stands with it should know that our response is inevitable and non-negotiable.