Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty has issued a stark warning that the escalating crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah could trigger a “comprehensive regional war,” negatively impacting ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Speaking to the French Press Agency, Abdel Atty expressed deep concern over the potential for a full-scale escalation in the region, which Egypt had previously warned about.
He emphasized that the recent intensification is adversely affecting efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, where Egypt is playing a mediating role.
On Sunday, Israel and Hezbollah engaged in intense exchanges of fire. The Lebanese group launched rockets deep into northern Israel following one of the heaviest bombardments they have faced in nearly a year of conflict.
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem, during the funeral of senior group leader Ibrahim Aqil killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday, stated, “We will not specify how we will respond to the aggression, and we have entered a new phase titled ‘battle of open account.'”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that operations would continue until it is safe for those evacuated in the north to return, suggesting a protracted conflict.
Gallant’s statement came as Hezbollah vowed to keep fighting until a ceasefire is achieved in the parallel war in Gaza.
Israeli Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi said in a televised statement that the military is well-prepared for the next stages of the fight expected in the coming days, though specifics of the subsequent actions were not disclosed.
“The military will do whatever is necessary to eliminate threats against Israel,” Halevi added.
The conflict has significantly intensified over the last week after Hezbollah opened a second front against Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians facing an Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
The situation escalated further when thousands of wireless communication devices (pagers and walkie-talkies) used by Hezbollah members exploded on Tuesday and Wednesday in an attack widely believed to be orchestrated by Israel, though it has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
The following day, Israel conducted its most intense bombardment of Lebanon to date.
An Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday targeted several top Hezbollah leaders, resulting in 45 deaths, including 16 group members, among them senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and another leader, Ahmad Wahbi, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
On Saturday, the Israeli military reported an unprecedented bombardment, hitting approximately 290 targets, including thousands of Hezbollah’s rocket launch sites.
