Egypt, Lebanon urge Syrian-led transition free of interference

Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held discussions with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib, during which both leaders emphasized the need for a political transition in Syria free from external interference.

The two ministers stressed the importance of respecting the will of the Syrian people, safeguarding the country’s resources, unity, and territorial integrity, and ensuring a Syrian-led political transition "without foreign dictations," according to a statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

During the phone talks, the ministers addressed Lebanon's prolonged presidential crisis. Since November 2022, Lebanon has lacked a president due to political deadlock in its parliament. Abdelatty underlined the urgency of reaching a national consensus to resolve the presidential vacuum, highlighting the importance of avoiding foreign interference in Lebanon's domestic affairs.

These discussions coincided with Egypt's dispatch of its first relief plane to Syria following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.

The EgyptAir civilian aircraft, which landed in Damascus, carried 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. The aid, provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent, was handed over to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent at the airport by Egypt’s charge d'affaires in Damascus, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

The relief effort underscores Egypt's commitment to supporting the Syrian people, reflecting the historical ties between the two nations.

With IANS inputs