Lebanese Interior Minister and his Saudi counterpart, Emir Abdel Aziz Ben Saud Ben Naief Ben Abdel Aziz. (Creit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar on Thursday spoke from Mecca about “Lebanon's mounting challenges and ongoing Israeli aggression,” calling for an “intensification of joint efforts” between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
“Lebanon is facing mounting challenges and ongoing aggression that require an intensification of joint efforts to help support stability and preserve security,” Hajjar emphasized to his Saudi counterpart and head of the Hajj Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who received him at the ministry in Mecca as part of the Eid al-Adha pilgrimage, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Hajjar expressed “Lebanon's support for its Arab brothers during this delicate phase the region is experiencing,” and voiced “his hope that their support for Lebanon and assistance during the current circumstances will continue.”
The Health Ministry announced Wednesday that the cumulative death toll from the ongoing Israeli offensive from March 2 to May 27 now stands at 3,269 dead and 9,840 wounded. Regionally, Iran targeted Gulf countries in retaliation for Israeli-American attacks on its territory in early May.
On Wednesday night into Thursday, Tehran once again targeted a U.S. base in the region following new American strikes. Negotiations continue in an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension between Iran and the United States.
Hajjar discussed with his Saudi counterpart ways to strengthen the existing cooperation and coordination between the interior ministries of the two countries, as well as a number of issues of common interest, particularly security aspects, cooperation in combating narcotics, and reinforcing joint efforts to address their effects and dangers.
