CAIRO: Egypt reiterated its full solidarity with Lebanon at what it called “this critical time” as Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy fire on Sunday.
A statement by the Foreign Ministry in Cairo said it was following “with great concern the grave escalation in southern Lebanon, which has witnessed intensive Israeli airstrikes on the region that undermine the unity and sovereignty of Lebanese territory.”
Egypt said it “reiterates its warning that this unjustified Israeli escalation places the region at a dangerous crossroads, which may lead to catastrophic consequences for regional stability and potentially plunge it into a comprehensive regional war from which no country in the region would be immune to its repercussions.”
Cairo “condemns all unilateral actions, targeting of civilians, and violations of international humanitarian law,” the statement added.
It said Egypt “reaffirms the necessity of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, considering it the primary reason for the tension and escalation in the region.”
The Egyptian statement came as Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met on Friday with US Special Envoy for Lebanon Amos Hochstein in Washington.
Abdelatty emphasized the critical importance of continuing efforts to contain the escalation in southern Lebanon and to avoid slipping into a scenario of widespread regional war.
He highlighted Egypt’s persistent efforts to calm the region, particularly in southern Lebanon, and stressed the priority of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as key to regional de-escalation.
Abdelatty reviewed the extensive communications the Egyptian side undertook with various regional and international parties to halt the escalation.
The minister noted the importance of continuing joint efforts to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to maintain the security and stability of the Lebanese-Israeli border and to ensure respect for Lebanese sovereignty.
Abdelatty reiterated the warning regarding the grave and rapidly evolving developments occurring in Lebanon over the past few days, indicating that the region was facing a dangerous turning point due to irresponsible unilateral actions.
He cautioned that these actions could lead to consequences that would overshadow the stability of the entire region, and emphasized the importance of international support for the Lebanese government and various state institutions to help Beirut overcome its political and economic crises.
