Lebanese FM meets European officials as part of efforts to prevent war

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Bouhabib is meeting with European Union officials in Brussels this week to discuss efforts to prevent an expansion of the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group into an all-out war.

Josep Borrell, the outgoing EU foreign policy chief, attended a “working lunch” yesterday with Bouhabib, where the ministers discussed the “possibility of the European Union contributing to reducing the escalation and tension in southern Lebanon,” according to a statement by Lebanon’s National News Agency.

In a Wednesday post on social media platform X, Borrell cautioned that in the case of war between Israel and Lebanon, the EU would be affected as well.

“The EU supports the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in maintaining peace and stability in South Lebanon,” Borrell wrote.

Met w/ Lebanese Foreign Minister Bou Habib. We discussed how to ensure immediate de-escalation across the Blue Line & how to reinforce efforts towards a political solution acceptable to all.
Lebanon, Israel & the region cannot afford another war. The EU would be affected too. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/0ChxGnDNrO

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 26, 2024

Bouhabib also met with EU ambassadors from the Union’s 27 countries in the Political and Security Committee.

Thanks Foreign Minister of Lebanon Bou Habib for meeting with EU’s Political and Security Committee.
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Lebanon, Israel & the region cannot afford another war.

We support you & the Lebanese people for peace and stability in South Lebanon & the region. pic.twitter.com/qs8cu61ZaV

— Delphine Pronk (@FienBZ) June 26, 2024

After meeting with European diplomats in Belgium, Bouhabib will fly to the United States to meet with United Nations representatives in New York and with American officials in Washington, DC. He will also hold talks in Canada with his Canadian counterpart.

The minister’s tour of Europe and North America aims to “follow up on Lebanon’s efforts to reduce escalation and avoid a large-scale war in the south that portends an open regional war,” per the National News Agency.