Abdelatty: Egypt fully supports Aoun's plan for army to take back Israeli-occupied areas

BEIRUT — On Wednesday, Egypt expressed its “full support” for the initiative launched last Friday by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun regarding the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon and the Lebanese army’s readiness to fully deploy there once Israeli forces withdraw.

This message was conveyed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during his meeting with President Aoun in Baabda. The head of state had unveiled the five-point initiative on the eve of Lebanon’s Independence Day in a speech from southern Lebanon.

Following his meeting in Baabda, the Egyptian foreign minister, who arrived in Beirut the day before, stressed that Cairo “is making major efforts to spare Lebanon any danger or hostile actions that could threaten its security and safety, and these efforts will not stop.”

He expressed Egypt’s “full support for the Lebanese government’s decision to regain the monopoly of arms in the hands of state institutions” and called for “the immediate cessation of all Israeli violations” of the ceasefire agreement that came into effect in November 2024.

Abdelatty also noted that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has instructed authorities “to provide all forms of support and assistance and to leverage Egypt’s diplomatic network to help de-escalate tensions, implement the ceasefire agreement, and prevent any potential escalation.”

He reiterated Egypt’s “full support for Aoun’s initiative on Independence Day regarding the Lebanese army’s readiness to take control of areas occupied by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon.”

More context

Egypt strengthens its role in the Middle East: After Gaza, Lebanon

'Sparing Lebanon a new escalation'

The initiative confirms that the Lebanese Army “is ready to retake the positions occupied” by Israel along the border, based on a “specific timetable” to be submitted to the mechanism overseeing the ceasefire. The army can reclaim these positions “once all Israeli violations have ceased,” the president said on Nov. 21, reiterating Lebanon’s readiness to negotiate an agreement under the auspices of the U.N., the United States, or the international community to permanently end cross-border attacks.

Despite the cease-fire agreement reached in November 2024 after more than 13 months of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Israel continues to strike Lebanon almost daily, particularly in the south. These attacks have recently intensified, including the killing on Sunday of Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, Haytham Ali Tabataba’i, in a strike on southern Beirut.

“Egypt will spare no effort to help de-escalate,” the Egyptian official emphasized, saying Cairo aims to prevent any “new escalation” in Lebanon. “We favor diplomatic and political solutions, not military ones,” he added, warning that the entire region is “on the brink of a real escalation, which serves no side.” He stressed that Egypt is “using its contacts to help reduce tensions, whether through direct or indirect dialogue.”

After Baabda, Abdelatty visited Ain al-Tineh to meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who “supports the initiative” and called for an end to Israeli attacks, according to the Egyptian minister.

'Preserving all Lebanese communities'

During a visit to Dar al-Fatwa to meet the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdellatif Deriane, the Egyptian foreign minister reiterated the purpose of his trip: to convey to Beirut “Egypt’s sincere, constant, and intensive efforts to reduce regional escalation and spare Lebanon from the miseries of any aggression or tension threatening its sovereignty.”

“We reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for Lebanon, its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” he stressed. He also emphasized the need to “preserve all Lebanese communities within a framework of mutual respect and coexistence.” Abdelatty announced the upcoming visit to Lebanon of al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, which will aim to reaffirm strong relations between Egypt and Lebanon, as well as between the country’s highest Sunni institution, the Lebanese state, and Dar al-Fatwa.

In the afternoon, the Egyptian foreign minister met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to discuss developments in Lebanon and the region, including the situation in Gaza.

Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to “redoubling efforts to protect Lebanon” and emphasized the importance of “supporting the Lebanese Army and strengthening its capacities so it can fully carry out its missions,” reiterating Cairo’s support for the government’s decision to maintain the state’s monopoly on arms.

“The Lebanese Army is fulfilling its duty by implementing the decision to give the state the monopoly on force and executing government decisions,” Salam said. He also highlighted “Israel’s violations of the ceasefire agreement through daily attacks and the occupation of several positions in the south,” while praising Egypt’s efforts to ease tensions.

No meeting with his Lebanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Joe Rajji, was scheduled, as the minister is currently out of the country.