EU's Borrell meets Hezbollah delegation in Lebanon

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
6 Jan 2024 21:17
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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell meets with a Hezbollah delegation during a visit to Lebanon in which he underlined the need for talks to avoid further escalation.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell speaks during a joint press conference with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib in Beirut, Lebanon, January 6, 2024 (AP)

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, met with a Hezbollah delegation led by Deputy Mohammed Raad, an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.

The meeting took place during Borrell's visit to Lebanon, which included several meetings amid the rising tension in the country and region following the Israeli occupation's assassination of the deputy head of Hamas' politburo, Saleh al-Arouri, in an attack on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

During his meeting with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Borrell expressed his deep concern about the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and his "keenness not to let it expand to Lebanon."

Berri said that the implementation of Resolution 1701 begins with halting "Israel's" aggression and its withdrawal from the entire Lebanese territory.

Good meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri on the Gaza war & its impact on Lebanon, stressing the need for regional deescalation & a political solution

Also discussed the internal situation. In these difficult times it is crucial for Lebanon to have strong functioning institutions pic.twitter.com/5M8J3bBJQ0
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 6, 2024

During his meeting with acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the two parties "agreed to work together through diplomacy towards de-escalation and long-term stability, which are in the interest of everyone," according to Borrell's X post.

Borrell said an escalation in the Middle East should be avoided, underlining the need to "prevent Lebanon from being dragged into war", emphasizing that he informed "Israel" that "no one wins in the regional conflict."

The situation in southern Lebanon, the impact of the Gaza war and the situation in Syria were at the heart of discussions with PM @Najib_Mikati .

We agreed to work together through diplomacy towards deescalation and long-term stability, which are in the interest of everyone. pic.twitter.com/qPdlnZjfGG
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 6, 2024

He stressed the necessity of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli captives from Gaza.

Borrell had arrived in Lebanon and said in an X post that he would hold "important meetings on the impact of the Gaza war on Lebanon and the region," adding that "the priority is to avoid regional escalation and to advance diplomatic efforts" for regional peace.

Happy to be back in Lebanon to show support during these difficult times.

Will have important meetings on the impact of the Gaza war on Lebanon and the region.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 6, 2024

Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, he highlighted that 100% of the population is suffering from a food crisis according to the World Food Programme.

"We cannot continue to witness unbearable suffering for children, women, and innocent civilians," he said.

He also mentioned that Gaza cannot be isolated from the West Bank, being part of the territories occupied by "Israel" since 1967. He reiterated that the so-called "two-state solution" is the "only solution that achieves peace," noting that 90% of UN member states support it.

This morning, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon targeted the "Miron" base with 62 rockets as part of the initial response to the assassination of the Al-Qassam Brigades commander Saleh al-Arouri and his comrades in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This action was in response to a clear Israeli violation of the rules of engagement with Lebanon.

In detail, the statement clarified that the launched missiles were of various types, causing direct and confirmed hits on the Israeli base.

The statement provided information about the significance of "Miron" and the importance of targeting it as a vital target for the Israeli occupation. It revealed that the base serves as the headquarters for administration, monitoring, and air control, situated on the summit of Mount Carmel in northern occupied Palestine. It is the highest peak in occupied Palestine and is considered the sole center in the northern part of the Israeli entity, with no viable alternative.