Iranian Parliament Speaker Tours Lebanese Officials, Visits Strike Site
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) meets with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (L) in Beirut on October 12, 2024. ©Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati received Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf at the head of a delegation at the Grand Serail on Saturday before the latter’s visit to the site of the deadliest Israeli strike on central Beirut in recent weeks.

During the meeting, Mikati emphasized that the government's priorities at this stage are focused on ceasing fire and Israeli attacks, preserving Lebanon's security and ensuring the safety of its people. He stressed Lebanon's commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, enhancing the army's presence in the South, and conducting the necessary contacts with decision-making countries and the United Nations to pressure Israel into fully implementing the resolution.

At noon, Ghalibaf toured the site of the Israeli raid in Basta, accompanied by two Hezbollah lawmakers. He declared, “We offer our full support to the Lebanese people and wish them victory. We will continue to stand by their side during these difficult circumstances.”

Ghalibaf arrived at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport this morning, on a visit to Lebanon during which he is expected to hold talks and meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in addition to Mikati and Hezbollah MPs and members.

At the airport, where he was greeted by Representative of the Speaker of Parliament MP Mohammad Khawaja, Hassan Ezzedine and Ibrahim Mousawi, Ghalibaf stated that he was in Lebanon at the invitation of Speaker Berri and to deliver a message from the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Khamenei, emphasizing Iran's support for Lebanon, its government and its people. He mentioned that he would be heading to Geneva after his visit.

An Israeli air raid on Thursday night targeted the densely populated Basta area in Beirut, killing at least 22 people. The raid was reportedly aimed at Hezbollah's security chief, Wafiq Safa, but his fate remains unknown.

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