Egyptian president warns top U.S. military official about conflict risks in Lebanon

U.S. Air Force General C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and key defense officials in Cairo on Sunday. The visit comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict.

President Sisi's office issued a statement emphasizing the "dangers of opening a new front in Lebanon" and underscored the importance of maintaining Lebanon's stability and sovereignty. Sisi urged the international community to intensify efforts to de-escalate the situation that threatens the security and stability of the entire region.

On the same day, Israel launched pre-emptive strikes across more than 40 locations in southern Lebanon, aiming to prevent a significant rocket and drone attack by Hezbollah, as reported by the BBC. This operation marks the most extensive attack on Hezbollah since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel over the weekend, in retaliation for the assassination of one of its senior leaders.

Earlier in the week, General Brown met with Jordan’s chairman of the joint chiefs, where he reiterated the U.S. commitment to de-escalation in the region. The U.S. strategy appears to include bolstering its military presence to deter further large-scale attacks.