Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan meets Lebanese leaders

BEIRUT — Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan held talks in Beirut on Thursday with Lebanese leaders, as regional diplomacy intensifies alongside direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Washington.

Bin Farhan, an adviser to the Saudi foreign minister, was received in the morning by President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, and later by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a few hours before a new meeting between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington.

At the presidential palace, Aoun and the Saudi envoy “had an in-depth discussion on the current situation, given recent developments, and on Saudi Arabia’s role in helping Lebanon overcome the challenges it has been facing,” according to a statement from the presidency.

Separately, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan contacted Berri, with whom he discussed the situation in Lebanon and the wider region, as well as Israel's destruction of border villages. The parliament speaker thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts in supporting Lebanon, including aid in ending the Israeli aggression, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The Saudi foreign ministry also said Faisal bin Farhan held a meeting with Berri. “During this exchange, the two sides discussed developments on Lebanese territory and efforts to achieve a total halt to Israeli aggression against Lebanon,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that the minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s position supporting the stability of Lebanon and the strengthening of its state institutions. Berri, for his part, praised Saudi Arabia’s role and its continued efforts to support Lebanon and preserve its security and that of the region. He also reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the Taif Agreement and its rejection of any threat to Saudi Arabia and its security.

Berri also held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Thursday, NNA reported. “The discussions focused on developments in the situation in Lebanon and the region, in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, its continued violations of the cease-fire agreement, as well as its strikes targeting civilians, journalists and rescue teams, in addition to the destruction of villages, towns and border towns in the South,” NNA said. Berri praised Egypt’s efforts in support of Lebanon at all levels.

Lebanon, which has entered direct negotiations with Israel in Washington for the first time since 1983, is relying on Arab diplomatic backing in the process. L’Orient Today has learned that the president is working to organize visits to Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as to Qatar to meet Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, as part of broader diplomatic push.

As a second round of consultations is scheduled for Thursday in Washington, Lebanon seeks a two-month extension of the 10-day truce that entered into force with Israel on April 17.