It was striking to note the official absence of Lebanon from the "Cairo Peace Summit" yesterday, despite Egypt being one of the key Arab countries consistently concerned about Lebanon's situation and showing continuous interest in addressing its crises. This absence or omission has raised questions and concerns that remain unanswered due to the lack of statements clarifying the reasons for it, even though the summit did not reach a concluding statement because of the divergences between the Arab and Western groups.
"An-Nahar" pointed out that the "eagerness to monitor the situation in Lebanon" was reflected in a statement issued by the U.S. State Department regarding the call made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati yesterday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, "Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati yesterday to reaffirm the United States' support for the Lebanese people." He noted the growing concern regarding increased tensions along Lebanon's southern border. The Secretary reiterated the importance of respecting the interests of the Lebanese people, who will be affected by Lebanon being drawn into the conflict triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel. Blinken extended his condolences to the families of Lebanese civilians who tragically lost their lives due to the conflict and emphasized the United States' continued support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, the only legitimate guarantors of Lebanon's stability and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, there has not been much change in the daily on-ground reality in the south, where the lines of rocket and artillery exchanges across the blue line continue to heat up. It appears that the coming days will see an increased focus on emergency preparedness at all levels of ministries and administrations, according to the plans approved by the Cabinet last week, indicating a rising seriousness in preparations to their peak in light of growing fears stemming from the ongoing military escalation along the southern border with Israel.
There is also a reflection in this context of what Western envoys are carrying to Lebanon, as well as the intense Arab and international communications with Lebanon, which all warn against Hezbollah's involvement in a widespread war with Israel. The reality of these warnings, coupled with calls from various countries advising their nationals against traveling to Lebanon, signals a clear indication of the potential outbreak of war affecting Lebanon. While several local circles are betting on a decrease in the intensity of the Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza positively influencing the reduction of confrontation risks between Israel and Hezbollah, these bets are shaky and do not provide sufficient guarantees amid the escalating attacks in Gaza.
