Egypt Affirms 'Full Support' for Lebanon to Overcome 'Difficult Circumstances'

El-Kabbag visits a child care center in Lebanon. (Photo: Egyptian Cabinet)
El-Kabbag visits a child care center in Lebanon. (Photo: Egyptian Cabinet)
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Egypt Affirms 'Full Support' for Lebanon to Overcome 'Difficult Circumstances'

El-Kabbag visits a child care center in Lebanon. (Photo: Egyptian Cabinet)
El-Kabbag visits a child care center in Lebanon. (Photo: Egyptian Cabinet)

Egypt renewed its “full support” for Lebanon to overcome its “difficult conditions”, pointing to the importance of reviving production rather than relying solely on foreign aid.

Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Nivine El-Kabbag concluded a three-day visit to Beirut on Sunday, within the work program of the delegation of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers.

The delegation includes Head of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers, Minister of Social Development of Jordan, Ayman Al-Mufleh, Minister of Social Solidarity in Egypt, Nivine El-Kabbag, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector in the League of Arab States Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Khaled Al-Hanafi, and Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Social Affairs Ministers in the League of Arab States, Plenipotentiary Minister Tariq Al-Nabulsi.

A statement by the Egyptian ministry of Solidarity said that Kabbag met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and underlined “Egypt’s full support for Lebanon in light of the circumstances it is going through, in implementation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives.”

She also presented Egypt’s experiences in a number of aspects of social support.

Kabbag also met with President Michel Aoun and emphasized the full readiness to support Lebanese civil society in cooperation with the Executive Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, through Egyptian civil society associations and institutions.

She noted that meetings with Lebanese officials were aimed at reviewing the best means to provide social protection and extend safety nets, as well as reviving the production cycle to strengthen the country’s economy.

The minister stressed that Lebanon has a lot of wealth that it can invest, expressing her confidence in the country’s ability to regain its prosperity and development in the near future.



Baghdad: Syria Did Not Request Security Guarantees for Summit Attendance

The Coordination Framework reaffirmed its support for the success of the Arab Summit in Baghdad (X)
The Coordination Framework reaffirmed its support for the success of the Arab Summit in Baghdad (X)
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Baghdad: Syria Did Not Request Security Guarantees for Summit Attendance

The Coordination Framework reaffirmed its support for the success of the Arab Summit in Baghdad (X)
The Coordination Framework reaffirmed its support for the success of the Arab Summit in Baghdad (X)

Baghdad confirmed that Syrian authorities did not request any security guarantees for President Ahmad Al-Sharaa to attend the upcoming Arab League Summit. Despite ongoing debate over Syria’s participation, Iraq’s Coordination Framework reiterated its support for the summit’s success.

Baghdad will host the 34th Arab League Summit on May 17. While there has been speculation about Syria’s involvement, Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari stated that no official requests or communication were received from Damascus regarding security arrangements for Al-Sharaa. He emphasized that preparations to secure all delegations, including the Syrian president, are complete, and that the summit will proceed without road closures or curfews.

On border security, Al-Shammari noted that the situation is stable, though parts of the Iraqi-Syrian border are under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He added that Iraq has increased its military presence near the Al-Qaim border crossing, where no Syrian forces are present, and that there is currently no direct security coordination between the two countries’ interior ministries.

Politically, the Coordination Framework — a coalition of Shiite political forces — issued a unified statement supporting the summit, stressing the need to prioritize national interests amid regional challenges. The group praised efforts to elevate Iraq’s regional role through the successful hosting of the event.

Meanwhile, prominent Shiite leader Ammar Al-Hakim called for engagement with Syria’s new leadership, citing Iraq’s strategic interests. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani echoed this sentiment, stating in a recent interview that Iraq aims not just to host, but to lead in offering solutions to Middle Eastern crises.

Analysts suggest that Iraq’s outreach to Syria has stirred internal political tensions, potentially reshaping alliances ahead of the national elections scheduled for November 2025.