This occurred during a phone call on Thursday between Egyptian FM Abdelatty and his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Raji.
During the call, Abdelatty also expressed Egypt’s hope that the Joint Higher Committee between the two countries convenes as soon as possible, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Moreover, Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt will continue to back Lebanon, its government, and national institutions comprehensively to help them fulfill the aspirations of the Lebanese people.
He also reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast support for Lebanon in confronting security challenges, adding that Cairo rejects any actions that might endanger the Lebanese people's security or stability.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of upholding and implementing the ceasefire agreement in southern Lebanon, calling for the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the empowerment of the Lebanese army to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Egypt's top diplomat also underscored the need for all parties to fully and simultaneously implement this resolution without selectivity.
Their call comes amid escalating tensions in southern Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have continued despite the ceasefire agreement reached on 27 November 2023.
Although the ceasefire stipulates that Israel withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, it still maintains control over five positions in southern Lebanon which it considers “strategic.”
On Thursday, an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed three people, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
Saturday saw the most serious escalation since the November ceasefire, when the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon left eight dead.
This escalation followed rocket fire from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, for which Hezbollah denied responsibility.
The UN peacekeeping force expressed alarm over the rising violence and urged all parties to preserve civilian safety and fragile stability.
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