Caretaker Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, received by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Aug. 9, 2024 at the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Credit: Michel Hallak/L'Orient Today)
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Friday that Egypt has supported the need to end the conflict in South Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel since last October. He also emphasized that Lebanese diplomacy is "primarily focused on peace in Lebanon."
During a meeting at the Grand Serail with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Bou Habib briefed him on his recent visit to Egypt, where the Lebanese situation was discussed. "I informed the Prime Minister about the outcomes of my visit to Egypt and Cairo's unconditional support for Lebanon. Egypt stressed the need to end the war in the South, which is linked to the Gaza conflict. However, our primary concern remains peace," Bou Habib said in a statement.
South Lebanon has witnessed near-daily hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel since Oct. 8, when Hezbollah opened a "support front" for Gaza's Hamas. Tensions have recently intensified following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of Fouad Shukur, Hezbollah's military chief, in an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Calls for a Cease-fire
Bou Habib also praised the joint statement on Thursday by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, which urged Israel and Hamas to resume cease-fire discussions next week in Doha or Cairo. In a joint statement, the three mediators invited the opposing parties to resume talks on Aug. 15, noting that a framework agreement was "now on the table, with only the details of its implementation pending."
"The Lebanese government values the importance of finalizing a cease-fire agreement and releasing hostages and detainees based on the principles outlined by President Biden and approved by UN Security Council Resolution 2735. The government believes there is no room for further delay and urges all parties involved to expedite the hostage release process, initiate a cease-fire, and implement the agreement without hesitation," Bou Habib said.
He also discussed with Mikati the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate, adding that Lebanese authorities had made a "minor change" to the text, though he did not provide further details. The UNIFIL mandate is expected to be renewed for another year soon. "We will send a letter to the ambassadors today [Friday] outlining the basic principles of Lebanon's foreign policy, particularly regarding Gaza and South Lebanon," the minister said.