Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Cairo’s “full support” for Lebanon’s efforts to assert exclusive state control over weapons during an official visit to Beirut on Wednesday.
After talks with President Joseph Aoun, Abdelatty underscored Egypt’s backing for the president’s latest Independence Day initiative, under which he affirmed that the Lebanese Army is ready to assume control of the five strategic positions held by Israel in the south.
“We are making intensive efforts to spare Lebanon any risks that threaten its security and safety,” Abdelatty said, adding that Egypt views Lebanon’s stability as integral to its own. He also reiterated Cairo’s commitment to the “full implementation” of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
He said President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi instructed him to mobilize all possible support for Lebanon, including leveraging Egypt’s regional ties to uphold the cessation of hostilities and prevent potential escalation.
Abdelatty added that Cairo is actively engaging with regional and international stakeholders to advance a political resolution and reduce tensions. He noted that his visit follows a recent phone call between al-Sisi and Aoun focused on regional developments.
He praised the Lebanese state and army for their efforts to maintain stability in the south, saying their actions “should be appreciated by all, as we do.”
Abdelatty’s trip to Beirut comes shortly after his November 22 meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. According to media reports, his visit aims to present a proposed de-escalation mechanism to avert a potential Israeli escalation in Lebanon and to support the withdrawal of Israeli forces from specific positions in the south in exchange for the disarmament of armed groups.
Visit to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
After his meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Badr Abdelatty met with Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh. During the meeting, Berri expressed his full support for Aoun’s Independence Day initiative and stressed the need to place all weapons in Lebanon under the legitimate authority of the state and the army.
For his part, the Egyptian minister reaffirmed Egypt’s full commitment to the Lebanese state and its strategic vision, while emphasizing Egypt’s support for ending Israeli violations in the south of the country. Abdelatty also underscored Egypt’s active role with all regional parties, noting that Egypt respects the nature of Lebanese society, including all communities and factions.
Meeting at the Grand Serail
Similarly, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received Mr. Abdelatty and his accompanying delegation at the Grand Serail, emphasizing that “the Lebanese army is fulfilling its duty by enforcing the decision to reserve weapons for the state and implementing the government's decisions, but Israel continues to violate the agreement with daily attacks and the occupation of a number of points in the south,” noting that he “appreciates all the efforts made by Egypt to reduce the escalation.”
For his part, the Egyptian foreign minister said that his country would continue to make every effort to protect Lebanon, stressing the importance of supporting the Lebanese army and strengthening its capabilities to carry out its assigned tasks, and reiterating Cairo's support for the Lebanese government's decision to limit weapons to the state.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review the agreements signed between the two parties at the meeting of the Lebanese-Egyptian Higher Committee and ways to accelerate their implementation, in addition to discussing developments in Lebanon and the region as well as the situation in Gaza.
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