The Situation is Very Tense, and All Eyes are on the Visit of the Head of Egyptian Intelligence!

لبنان اليوم

The Arab Republic of Egypt plays a vital role in Lebanese affairs, from the Quintet Committee meetings until now.
It is no secret that there are communication channels between Egypt and the Lebanese “Hezbollah” on one hand, and between it and the Israeli side on the other, which gives it the role of mediator in conveying security messages between the two parties.

From this standpoint, the visit of the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, is of great importance.
This visit comes after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 21st of this month, raising the possibility that he is carrying a message from the Israeli side, or a warning he gleaned from the meeting regarding a possible security operation on Lebanese territory.

Major General Rashad’s visit was preceded by a meeting between the Egyptian ambassador and President General Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace.
Following the meeting, the ambassador explained that “the visit of the Egyptian intelligence director falls within the framework of security and political coordination with Lebanon,” stressing that “Egypt is making efforts to calm the situation.”

The ambassador added: “What is happening in terms of the development of Israeli attacks in their extent and pace calls on us to be wary of what is happening.”
He also affirmed that “Egypt supports the President of the Republic’s positions regarding the exclusivity of weapons and his proposal of Lebanon’s readiness to enter into negotiations, and stands fully and clearly by the President’s approach, and extends a helping hand in this regard.”

Regarding coordination between the Egyptian and American sides, analysts believe that the visit of the Egyptian intelligence chief to Lebanon does not necessarily mean that there is Egyptian-American coordination in this file.
The United States does not need an Egyptian role to deliver its messages to Lebanese officials.

Analysts point out that the Egyptian move comes from its traditional position as a channel of communication with the Israelis, in addition to conveying the general Arab mood, which seems dissatisfied with the behavior of the Lebanese state, and with its slowness, but rather with its actual resignation from bearing its responsibilities towards the security and sovereign situation.
There is an Arab impression that the Lebanese state is turning a blind eye to sensitive files, and turning a blind eye to its constitutional duties in controlling the military situation, which increases the concern of Arab countries interested in preventing a slide into a comprehensive confrontation in the region.

Observers believe that the Egyptians are seeking to take advantage of the communication channels that bring them together with “Hezbollah.”
The head of intelligence will work to use this direct relationship to convey a clear message to the party that the situation has reached an extremely dangerous level.

Available information indicates that the head of Egyptian intelligence met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days ago.
Which suggests that the Lebanese file topped the agenda of discussions between the two sides, especially in light of the escalating tension in the south and increasing international pressure.