The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar has revealed details about the “divergent” positions expressed by Arab countries, including the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar, concerning the war on Lebanon, the Shiite representation there, and the separation of the Lebanese and Gaza fronts.
In this context, the newspaper reported that the UAE has adopted a different stance from other countries, supporting the separation of the support fronts in exchange for significant financial aid to Lebanon.
A senior Egyptian official, who participated in recent meetings between the Egyptian president and his Emirati counterpart in Cairo a few days ago, stated that the UAE has been acting differently since the martyrdom of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah. The UAE is urging Cairo to convince Lebanese politicians to declare an end to the war and to separate the Lebanese front from Gaza, offering “generous” financial aid to Lebanon if it agrees to this.
The situation in Lebanon dominated the discussions between Mohammed bin Zayed and Egyptian officials at both the presidential and intelligence levels, as they sought to formulate common ground amidst clear differences on this issue.
The Emiratis insist on a ceasefire by having the Lebanese state declare an end to the war and adhere to international resolutions. Meanwhile, Egyptian officials have urged their Abu Dhabi counterparts to convince the Israelis that a ceasefire would more positively influence the normalization paths that Tel Aviv seeks with Arab countries.
Shiite Representation in Lebanon
Egyptian sources indicated that Cairo is keen on resolving the presidential vacancy in Lebanon as part of the solution, but it has informed Lebanese and regional parties, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, that it opposes attempts to impose new political references on Lebanese sects. This message clearly refers to their rejection of Shiite figures supported by Saudi Arabia as representatives of Lebanon’s Shiites, hinting at reports of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi backing certain Shiite religious and political figures to assume leadership positions.
Interestingly, according to Al-Akhbar, a rapprochement between Egypt and Qatar has emerged on this issue, with both coordinating their talks with Iran as part of efforts to reach solutions for the situations in Gaza and Lebanon.
This also extends to intensified communications between Egyptian and Turkish officials, amid concerns from both sides over the American stance, which continues to justify Israeli actions rather than focus on stopping the war.
The Operation in Lebanon Will Take Time
Al-Akhbar also disclosed that the American side has spoken with Egyptian officials about the bombing operations in the southern suburbs, viewing them as targeting key Hezbollah centers that cannot be allowed to persist. However, they noted that the operation in Lebanon will take additional time.
An Egyptian diplomat mentioned that Washington has no intention of implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon soon. Still, Cairo has informed the Americans that Israel’s claims of eliminating Hezbollah are “impossible.”
Cairo believes that Hezbollah’s capabilities remain significant and that its fighters are fully prepared for a prolonged war of attrition, one that could inflict heavy casualties on Israeli occupation forces.
