Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a stern warning to America’s top military leader during a meeting this past Sunday, emphasizing the growing dangers of a significant conflict in Lebanon. The meeting between Sisi and U.S. Air Force General C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took place in the wake of escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
General Brown arrived in Egypt just hours after one of the most intense exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in over ten months. The clashes saw Hezbollah launching hundreds of rockets and drones into Israel, while Israel retaliated with airstrikes from about 100 jets targeting Lebanese positions. This violent flare-up underscored the fragile situation on the Israel-Lebanon border and the potential for a broader conflict that could destabilize the entire region.
Sisi, in his discussions with Brown, expressed deep concern over the recent escalation. He emphasized the urgent need for the international community to step up efforts to defuse tensions in the region. According to a statement from Sisi’s office, the Egyptian leader urged for intensified global pressure to halt the ongoing escalation, which he warned could jeopardize regional security and stability.
In particular, Sisi highlighted the dangers of opening a new front in Lebanon. He stressed the importance of maintaining Lebanon’s stability and sovereignty amidst the current tensions. Sisi’s warnings reflect Egypt’s broader concerns about the ripple effects that a conflict in Lebanon could have across the Middle East, potentially drawing in multiple countries and leading to widespread instability.
While General Brown did not make any public statements during his visit to Egypt, his meetings with Sisi and other top Egyptian defense officials were focused on strategies to prevent the conflict from broadening. Brown’s spokesperson later confirmed that the U.S. general discussed various ways to deter the conflict from escalating further. This aligns with Brown’s remarks made to Reuters before his arrival in the region, where he expressed his intention to explore ways to prevent further escalation that could spiral into a more extensive conflict.
In addition to meeting with Sisi, General Brown also held discussions with Egypt’s defense minister and the chief of defense. These meetings were part of Brown’s broader regional tour, which included a prior visit to Jordan, where he met with Jordan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Maj. Gen. Yousef Al-Huneiti, in Amman.
During his time in Jordan, Brown and Al-Huneiti discussed the growing regional tensions and the collective efforts required to resolve the situation. They also addressed the ongoing negotiations in Cairo, where diplomats are trying to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. These talks, aimed at exchanging hostages for a ceasefire, have so far been elusive, but they remain a crucial element in preventing further violence in the region.
