Egyptian foreign minister visits Lebanon to push for ceasefire with Israel - analysis

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has made a visit to Lebanon, during which he met a few key officials, spoke of Egypt’s support for the country, and called for a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Abdelatty, a career diplomat, replaced Egypt’s long-time foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, in the summer. The Egyptian envoy met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally.

Abdelatty “conveyed a message of unwavering support from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian government for Lebanon during its current crisis,” Lebanese media reported. 

The meeting took place in the presence of the Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, and Berri’s media adviser, Ali Hamdan.

“I conveyed to Speaker Berri the full support of President Sisi and the Egyptian state, reiterating our commitment to continue assisting Lebanon until it overcomes its challenges. We condemn the aggression and are continuing our communications to halt it,” Abdelatty said.

The foreign minister also discussed the need for Lebanon to resolve its vacant presidency issue. Hezbollah has prevented Lebanon from electing a president for years, hoping to keep the office empty so that the terrorist group can hollow out the country.

The Egyptian envoy also visited Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun and praised the Lebanese military.

“The meeting also covered the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, with both Berri and Aoun confirming Lebanon’s readiness to execute the resolution and the army’s preparedness for immediate deployment to achieve its objectives,” the report in Lebanese media noted.

Abdelatty also met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. In meetings with Mikati, Abdelatty conferred condemnation of Israel’s attacks, according to Egyptian media.

“Egypt is deeply concerned about the escalating situation in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. We are actively working with regional and international actors to end the violence and secure a lasting ceasefire,” he said, according to reports. 

Aiding Lebanon 

Egypt has provided humanitarian aid to Lebanon, and Abdelatty also helped return 294 Egyptian citizens stranded in the country back to Egypt, bringing the total number of Egyptians repatriated from Lebanon to 1,177, Egyptian media reported.

Pro-Iran Al-Mayadeen media also reported on the trip but took a slightly different perspective. In that report, it was emphasized that Abdelatty said that the election of a Lebanese president should not be a condition for a ceasefire. It noted as well that he had condemned Israeli “aggression” and said that Egypt has daily contact with the US and other countries about a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Abdelatty spoke to his counterpart in China in September and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week and has been at the helm of Middle East ceasefire negotiations as Egypt-Iran ties have improved.