ISTANBUL

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Beirut on Tuesday evening for talks with Lebanese officials.

The top diplomat was welcomed at Rafic Hariri Airport by Information Minister Paul Morcos, the Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement said Abdelattay affirmed during his meeting with Morcos Egypt’s full support for Lebanon, stressing Cairo’s commitment to standing by the Lebanese state amid the current challenges facing the country.

The top diplomat is expected to meet with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss bilateral cooperation and current developments in Lebanon and the region.

According to the ministry, the talks will affirm Egypt’s commitment to preserving Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and supporting its efforts to overcome current challenges “in a manner that safeguards its security and stability and meets the aspirations of the Lebanese people.”

Separately, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and affirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanon’s efforts to ensure that weapons remain solely in the hands of the Lebanese state.

This came during a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart during which Sisi congratulated Aoun on the 82nd anniversary of Lebanon’s independence from France, and reiterated Egypt’s firm support of Lebanon’s sovereignty, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Aoun, for his part, expressed appreciation for the Egyptian support for Lebanon. He also voiced hope for greater international support for the Lebanese army “given the heavy national responsibilities it bears.”

On Sunday, five people were killed and 28 others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting senior Hezbollah commander Haitham Tabatabai in southern Beirut.

Tensions in southern Lebanon have been mounting for weeks, with the Israeli military intensifying near-daily air raids inside Lebanese territory, claiming to target Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 331 people have been killed and 945 injured by Israeli fire since a ceasefire deal took effect on Nov. 27, 2024.