Egypt, Lebanon to sign energy deal as minister visits Beirut

War and crisis-hit Lebanon will sign Monday a deal with Egypt for energy cooperation that will allow Lebanon to increase its electricity production.

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi was in Beirut Monday and met with President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Aoun lauded the energy deal with Egypt after meeting Badawi. He said that Egypt will provide crisis-hit Lebanon with natural gas to increase its power production.

Egypt is also diplomatically working to de-escalate tensions between Lebanon and Israel.

Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa said Monday that Egypt's main goal is to de-escalate tension between Lebanon and Israel and that Egypt has delivered "no threats or warnings" but just called on all parties to implement Security Council Resolution 1701 and a November ceasefire deal. "We are coordinating with our partners, especially the United States, to achieve this goal."

Despite the November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon and has maintained troops in five areas it deems "strategic".

According to the agreement, Hezbollah was required to pull its forces north of the Litani River and have its military infrastructure in the vacated area dismantled.

Earlier this month, Egypt's PM Mostafa Madbouly visited Beirut and vowed that Egypt will "spare no effort" to prevent further escalation between Lebanon and Israel. His visit also focused on bolstering energy cooperation and exporting gas to Lebanon.