Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi affirmed Cairo’s firm position in support of Lebanon’s sovereignty and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 during a phone call on Tuesday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. He also reiterated Egypt’s backing for the Lebanese government’s policy of ensuring that weapons remain solely in the hands of the state, according to the stated remarks.

Presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said el-Sisi extended congratulations to the Lebanese president on the occasion of Lebanon’s 82nd Independence Day anniversary, expressing Egypt’s appreciation for the growing momentum in bilateral relations between the two countries.

For his part, Aoun welcomed Egypt’s continued support for Lebanon and reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to confining weapons to the state and its legitimate institutions.

He also emphasized the need for greater international support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, given their significant national responsibilities, and expressed gratitude for Egypt’s role in assisting the Lebanese military and security institutions.

The two leaders also reviewed areas of cooperation between Cairo and Beirut as Egypt continues to contribute to regional stability and support for the Lebanese state amid ongoing challenges.

President Aoun: 'Israel' disregards international appeals

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike in an official statement, describing the attack, carried out one day after Lebanon’s Independence Day, as "further proof that Israel pays no heed to repeated international calls to cease its hostilities against Lebanon."

On Sunday, the Israeli occupation launched an airstrike targeting the fourth and fifth floors of a ten-story residential building on al-Areed Street in Haret Hreik, an area in Beirut’s southern suburb.

He stressed that "Israel continues to reject the implementation of UN resolutions and other diplomatic efforts aimed at curbing escalation and restoring stability, not just to Lebanon, but to the entire region."

Aoun noted that "Lebanon has upheld the cessation of hostilities for nearly a year and has consistently proposed peaceful initiatives." He urged the international community to act decisively to prevent further deterioration, warning that continued aggression could reignite regional tensions and lead to more bloodshed.

Regional, global condemnations of the aggression

The Iranian Embassy in Beirut issued a statement denouncing the strike, saying, "The criminal attacks have now extended to the southern suburb, in yet another act by the terrorist 'Israeli' entity that does not hesitate to threaten the safety of the Lebanese people."

Despite the attack, the statement affirmed that "these cowardly strikes will not break the resolve of those who stand for justice, nor will they weaken their unwavering will to resist oppression."

In a call with Al Mayadeen, Ali Abu Shahin, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, labelled the attack "a deliberate act of aggression and a grave crime against Lebanon and its sovereignty," emphasizing that it "constitutes a blatant violation of the declared ceasefire." He asserted that “the international community bears direct responsibility, as it continues to provide cover for the occupation unless it steps in to restrain it.”

In a statement, Palestinian Islamic Jihad described the Israeli airstrike on Beirut's Southern Suburb as "a dangerous escalation in the continued aggression against the Lebanese people," affirming that the Palestinian people stand firmly in solidarity with "their Lebanese brothers and sisters."

Likewise, Secretary-General of the Tunisian Popular Current Party, Zouhair Hamdi, condemned the attack during an interview with Al Mayadeen, stressing that "this aggression will neither shake the resistance nor deter it from its position."