Turkish Foreign Minister to Visit Lebanon on Tuesday

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan looks on during a joint press conference with the Egyptian foreign minister in Cairo on October 14, 2023. (AFP)
Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan looks on during a joint press conference with the Egyptian foreign minister in Cairo on October 14, 2023. (AFP)
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Turkish Foreign Minister to Visit Lebanon on Tuesday

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan looks on during a joint press conference with the Egyptian foreign minister in Cairo on October 14, 2023. (AFP)
Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan looks on during a joint press conference with the Egyptian foreign minister in Cairo on October 14, 2023. (AFP)

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will make an official visit to Lebanon on Tuesday to discuss regional, global and bilateral issues, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

Fidan will visit Lebanon at the invitation of his Lebanese counterpart, the ministry said.

The visit comes as Israel gears up for a ground offensive into Gaza in response to an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7.

Earlier on Monday, Fidan discussed Israeli attacks on Gaza and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in a call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said, according to Reuters.

The source provided no further information.

Türkiye has said it was ready to mediate the conflict and that it was in contact with Hamas on the release of civilians being held hostage by the group.

It has also sent humanitarian aid to Gaza, which is currently held in Egypt while borders are closed.



Lebanon's President Tells US Senior Official Israeli Occupation in Remaining Points Must End

Israeli soldiers stand near to a tank near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo
Israeli soldiers stand near to a tank near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo
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Lebanon's President Tells US Senior Official Israeli Occupation in Remaining Points Must End

Israeli soldiers stand near to a tank near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo
Israeli soldiers stand near to a tank near Israel's border with Lebanon in northern Israel, October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday told US national security adviser Mike Waltz that it is necessary to end the Israeli occupation in the remaining points and complete the implementation of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Israeli troops withdrew on Tuesday from most of south Lebanon but Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would temporarily remain in five points needed for its security, Reuters reported.

The Lebanese presidency said that Lebanon would consider any remaining Israeli presence on Lebanese land an occupation.

Israel had been due to withdraw by January 26, but this was extended to February 18 after it accused Lebanon of failing to enforce the terms. Lebanon at the time accused Israel of delaying its withdrawal.