Egypt, Albania Agree on Importance of Supporting Stability in East Mediterranean

Sisi receives Rama and the accompanying delegation in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman)
Sisi receives Rama and the accompanying delegation in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman)
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Egypt, Albania Agree on Importance of Supporting Stability in East Mediterranean

Sisi receives Rama and the accompanying delegation in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman)
Sisi receives Rama and the accompanying delegation in Cairo. (Egyptian Presidency Spokesman)

Egypt and Albania have agreed on the importance of maintaining stability in the East Mediterranean region and respecting the sovereignty of countries.

They also stressed the need to coordinate efforts to confront terrorism and radical ideology.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received on Saturday Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss means of expanding bilateral cooperation.

According to presidential spokesman Bassam Rady, Sisi expressed his country’s pride in the friendship and historical ties with Albania, hoping to expand bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Both sides discussed means of developing bilateral ties in line with their historic relations and addressing aspects of economic cooperation. They tackled means to increase trade exchange and bolster mutual investments in various sectors, the spokesman added.

They discussed regional developments and agreed on the importance of maintaining stability in the eastern Mediterranean region, respecting the sovereignty and rights of states in terms of their natural resources on their lands and their exclusive economic zones, in accordance with the rules of international law and the principles of good neighborliness.

Rama commended Egypt’s experience in spreading moderate Islam and confronting religious intolerance and hatred.

He pointed to Sisi’s efforts to support the values of coexistence, tolerance and acceptance of the other.



Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire.

In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces.

Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation.

The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces.

The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting.