Egypt Pushes for Urgent De-escalation in Talks with U.S., France

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, held separate calls on Thursday with Steve Witkoff and Jean-Noël Barrot, as Cairo stepped up diplomatic efforts to contain escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.

The outreach follows directives from Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to intensify international coordination aimed at curbing the crisis and preventing further regional deterioration, the statement said.

During his call with the U.S. envoy, Abdelatty underscored the need for swift and decisive action to de-escalate tensions and consolidate a ceasefire, the statement added. He warned that ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon risk undermining both regional and international efforts to restore stability.

Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s firm position on respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks to safeguard regional security and avert a slide into wider instability, according to the statement.

In a separate conversation with the French foreign minister, both sides reviewed fast-moving developments, particularly in Lebanon, and stressed the urgency of halting hostilities and advancing de-escalation at a critical moment for the region, the statement said.

They also affirmed the need for coordinated international support for Lebanese state institutions, emphasizing efforts to ease humanitarian suffering and restore security and stability, it added.