Combined images of (From L to R) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
This came in a phone call that focused on regional developments, particularly in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the occupied West Bank, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The call, being the third in the last two weeks to discuss de-escalating the ongoing conflict in the region, comes amid the Israeli wars on Gaza and Lebanon and the growing confrontation between Tel Aviv and Tehran, threatening the outbreak of a region-wide war.
FM Abdelatty reiterated to his Iranian counterpart Egypt's rejection of any breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty and underscored the need for an immediate ceasefire.
He emphasized the need to empower the institutions of the Lebanese state and recognize the Lebanese army as the party that can achieve stability in the country under the current circumstances.
During the call, Abdelatty highlighted the necessity of fully implementing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701 and reiterated Egypt’s commitment to offering political and humanitarian support to Lebanon to survive its ongoing crisis.
Resolution 1701 – unanimously approved by the UNSC on 11 August 2006 – called for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in the aftermath of the Israeli aggression on the country. It stipulated that the Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are the only armed forces south of the Litani River, approximately 30 km (about 20 mi) from Lebanon's southern border.
Abdelatty also reaffirmed to Araghchi the importance of all parties supporting Lebanon during this critical phase in electing a new president to end the 5-year vacuum in the highest office in the country.
Israel has carried out intensive airstrikes against villages, towns, and cities across Lebanon, including Dahiyeh in Beirut, since 16 September, which killed more than 1,400 and wounded more than 10,000.
The Israeli bombing campaign came after nearly a year of trading cross-border fire with Hezbollah. Last week, Tel Aviv also started an attempt at a ground invasion into southern Lebanon but has been met with stiff resistance from Hezbollah fighters.
Tensions between Iran, which backs Hamas and Hezbollah, and Israel escalated into open warfare in recent months after the latter bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and then killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut.
On Tuesday, Iran fired 200 missiles on three military bases around Tel Aviv and other bases in retaliation to the assassinations of Haniyeh and Nasrallah.
Shortly after, Israel announced that preparations were underway, in consultations with the US, to launch a massive retaliatory attack on Iran.
In response, Iran threatened to respond to any Israeli attack with a devastating one.
During the call, the Egyptian foreign minister emphasized to his Iranian counterpart that Cairo is exerting all efforts to end the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the West Bank and ensure the full, unconditional entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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