Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) shakes hands with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday. Photo by Lebanese Presidency Press Occie/EPA
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 19 (UPI) — Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Friday that Lebanon’s stability was an ‘indivisible part” of the Arab region’s stability and security, emphasizing that his country continues to work tirelessly to avert further escalation between Lebanon and Israel.
Madbouly, who held separate talks with top Lebanese officials in Beirut, reiterated Egypt’s firm disapproval of Israel’s repeated violations of Lebanese territory and its occupation of five strategic positions in southern Lebanon.
Israel has refused to withdraw from the areas it still occupies in southern Lebanon and has continued its unrestrained attacks on Hezbollah, causing further casualties and destruction, even after a cease-fire agreement was reached on Nov. 27, 2024, aimed at ending the war with the Iran-backed group.
It also refrained from releasing Lebanese prisoners detained during the war and prevented displaced residents from returning to their border villages turned to ruin.
Israel has been imposing its own terms and operating with near-total freedom in Lebanon, insisting on Hezbollah’s complete disarmament, even as the Lebanese Army has successfully removed the group’s military presence along the border and south of the Litani River.
Hezbollah, greatly weakened by the war, has refrained from retaliating against Israel’s continued attacks since accepting the truce deal.
Madbouly emphasized the need for Israel’s “immediate and unconditional” withdrawal from all Lebanese territories and for respecting the truce agreement.
“Egypt spares no effort in continuing its diligent efforts to keep Lebanon away from any escalation,” he told reporters after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
He emphasized that Lebanon’s stability and national unity were “an indivisible part” of the security and stability of the entire Arab region.
Egypt has been exerting efforts for months to prevent Israel from expanding its attacks on Lebanon and launching another devastating war, by trying to advance proposals to resolve the issue of Hezbollah’s complete disarmament — an Israeli demand that Hezbollah firmly rejects.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country was counting on Egypt’s support “during this difficult phase,” expressing hope that efforts being exerted “to consolidate stability in Lebanon and to establish peace” in the region would succeed.
Madbouly’s visit, which focused on consolidating bilateral ties and boosting cooperation between the two countries, came while the “Mechanism” committee charged with monitoring the implementation of the 2024 cease-fire agreement was holding a meeting on the Lebanese-Israel border.
The Friday meeting, the second since Lebanon and Israel appointed civilian members to the military committee, focused on “setting conditions for residents to return safely to their homes, advancing reconstruction and addressing economic priorities,” according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon.
The statement noted that the civilian participants “underscored that durable political and economic progress is essential to reinforcing security gains and sustaining lasting peace,” while the military members agreed that a “strengthened Lebanese Army” to guarantee security in the border area “is critical to success.”
“Together, participants reaffirmed that progress on security and political tracks remain mutually reinforcing and essential to ensuring long-term stability and prosperity for both parties,” it added.
The committee will hold its next meeting Jan. 7.