UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK
By Wassim Seifeddine and Lina Altawell
BEIRUT/ISTANBUL (AA) – Lebanon is counting on Egypt’s “key political role” to help Beirut navigate the “current difficult phase,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Friday during a meeting with visiting Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
“Lebanon is counting on Egypt’s essential political role in the Arab region and on its support during this difficult phase,” Aoun said in his comments, cited by a presidency statement.
He added that activating the work of the Lebanese-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee is “vital” to the interests of both countries, voicing hope for the success of efforts to stabilize Lebanon and promote peace in the region.
Madbouly, for his part, said his visit aims to convey “the full support of Egypt, its president, government and people to Lebanon during this sensitive stage,” according to the statement.
He stressed Egypt’s backing for all steps taken by Aoun and the Lebanese government to restore stability and enable the army and state institutions to assert control over all Lebanese territory and exercise full sovereignty, the statement said.
The Egyptian premier affirmed that his visit also aims to reactivate the Lebanese-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee, which convened last month in Cairo for the first time in six years. He said talks with Lebanese officials will cover cooperation across key sectors, including energy, electricity, gas, industry and transportation, the presidency said.
Madbouly expressed Egypt’s readiness through the government and private sector to support reconstruction projects in southern Lebanon affected by Israeli attacks.
The prime minister also met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at his residence west of Beirut to discuss bilateral ties and developments in Lebanon and the region, according to a statement from Berri’s office.
Madbouly began a two-visit to Lebanon on Thursday, where he met with his Lebanese counterpart, Nawaf Salam, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly economic cooperation.
His visit came amid international and Arab efforts to de-escalate tensions in southern Lebanon and prevent a slide into a wider confrontation with Israel.
Earlier, during Salam’s visit to Cairo in November, Lebanon and Egypt signed 15 agreements and memorandums of understanding covering transport, economy, education, agriculture and other fields.
In August, Lebanon’s government approved a plan to place all weapons, including those held by Hezbollah, under state control. In September, it endorsed a five-phase plan drawn up by the army to implement the decision, though no timeline was set.
The first phase calls for the removal of Hezbollah weapons south of the Litani River by the end of the year. Hezbollah, however, has repeatedly rejected disarmament, insisting Israel must first withdraw from all Lebanese territory.
Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire in November 2024 after more than a year of cross-border attacks amid the war in Gaza. More than 4,000 people were killed, and 17,000 others injured.
Under the truce, Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon in January but have only partially pulled out, maintaining a military presence at five border outposts.