Egypt joins Quintet talks with President Aoun as Israeli strikes on Lebanon escalate

Ahram Online , Wednesday 4 Mar 2026

Egypt’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, attended a meeting in Beirut on Tuesday as Lebanese officials briefed key foreign envoys on Israel’s expanding military campaign in the south and the government’s response.

Egypt’s ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa pose for an image with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the ambassadors of the Quintet Committee. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

President Joseph Aoun met ambassadors from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, and the United States—the Quintet Committee countries—to discuss the security situation and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the envoys were briefed on decisions by Lebanon’s Council of Ministers aimed at affirming the state’s exclusive authority over decisions of war and peace, extending sovereignty across Lebanese territory, and banning armed or security activity outside state control.

Aoun called on the five countries to step up diplomatic pressure to halt Israeli military operations. He also thanked the Quintet members for their support during Lebanon’s political and economic crises.

The meeting came as Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting areas near the presidential palace outside Beirut, neighbourhoods south of the capital, and positions the Israeli army claims are linked to Hezbollah, killing at least 11 people.

Lebanon was drawn further into the regional conflict on Monday night after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

On Wednesday, an airstrike hit a hotel in Hazmieh, marking the first reported Israeli attack on the predominantly Christian suburb near the presidential palace and several embassies.

The Lebanese health ministry has reported that, since Monday, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least 52 people, wounded hundreds, and displaced over 83,000.

The escalation has raised fears that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could pull Lebanon deeper into the wider confrontation between Israel and Iran, increasing the risk of a broader regional war.

Egypt has repeatedly called on Tel Aviv to end its breaches of the November 2024 ceasefire, as Israel carried out daily airstrikes that killed and wounded hundreds and refused to end its occupation of parts of the country.