Lebanese president in Egypt, day after defending Hizbollah

In his first visit as Lebanese president, Michel Aoun called upon Egypt to lead an 'Arab salvation plan' to combat terrorism in the region.

CAIRO // Lebanon’s newly elected president arrived in Egypt on Monday, a day after defending Hizbollah in remarks to a private Egyptian TV station — comments that underlined his unabated support for the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group.

Michel Aoun’s last visit to Egypt was as a military officer 55 years ago. He was elected in October after a 29-month vacuum in the country’s top post.

After talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, also a former career military officer, Mr Aoun called upon Egypt to lead an “Arab salvation plan” to combat terrorism in the region.

He also invited Mr El Sisi to visit Lebanon and said Egypt has offered to support the Lebanese army and the country’s security forces.

Lebanon’s political factions are deeply divided with some, like Mr Aoun’s party and Hizbollah, aligning with Iran, while their opponents side with Saudi Arabia. Hizbollah’s militia is a force that rivals Lebanon’s army and police. Mr Aoun, whose Christian party is allied with Hizbollah, said earlier that Iran’s support for the group “could continue indefinitely”.

“As long as the Lebanese army is not strong enough to battle Israel ... we feel the need for its existence,” Mr Aoun told the Egyptian TV network CBC on Sunday night. He added that Hizbollah “has a complementary role to the Lebanese army.”

His remarks could spark tension with Saudi Arabia, Iran’s regional rival. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are at odds over conflicting agendas, including Syria and Yemen. In October, the Saudis halted oil shipments to Cairo, at a time when Egypt was in deep economic crisis.

The Saudi move appeared to have been in response to Egypt’s support of a UN Security Council resolution on Syria that was fiercely opposed by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia backs Syrian rebels fighting to topple president Bashar Al Assad. Egypt, fearing the rise of Islamic militants, has pushed for a political solution that might keep Mr Al Assad in power.

Mr Aoun visited Saudi Arabia last month in an attempt to restore relations, which deteriorated after Riyadh accused Beirut of failing to condemn the 2016 attacks by demonstrators on Saudi missions in Iran after the kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Saudi Arabia halted a $3 billion (Dh11bn) arms deal and banned Saudis and other Gulf nationals from travelling to Lebanon.

After Mr Aoun’s visit, the ban on travellers was lifted but the arms deal remains on pause.

* Associated Press