Reuters: The U.S. Will Redirect Part of Military Aid to Egypt to Lebanon

According to Reuters, the United States will provide $95 million in military aid originally intended for Egypt to Lebanon. Reuters reported on Monday evening, January 7, that the U.S. State Department has informed Congress of this decision, and the news agency has seen a copy of the State Department's letter. U.S. and Egyptian officials have not yet responded to this report. Some Arab media, including Al Arabiya, have also confirmed this news citing their sources. The letter from the U.S. State Department refers to the Lebanese Armed Forces as a 'key partner' in implementing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon and preventing Hezbollah threats against Israel. This news comes as some Democratic members of Congress have expressed serious concerns about the human rights record of the Egyptian government, particularly regarding the detention of thousands of political activists in the country. The U.S. State Department announced in September that it would overlook human rights conditions related to military aid to Egypt and provided the entire $1.3 billion aid package for that country, including $95 million intended to encourage the Egyptian government to release political prisoners. This decision sparked protests within Congress, with Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Coons, both senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemning it. According to Reuters, the new letter from the State Department to Congress does not clarify whether the $95 million to be given to Lebanon is the same amount that was originally allocated for Egypt; however, an aide to one member of Congress told Reuters that they do not believe the figure '95 million dollars' was coincidental. Egypt has been one of the countries urging the Biden administration to send more humanitarian aid to Gaza and has also played a mediating role in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the extremist group Hamas alongside Qatar. In another development, Israeli forces have withdrawn from other areas in southern Lebanon, and according to the ceasefire agreement, control has been handed over to the Lebanese Army. The U.S. special envoy confirmed on Monday that Israeli forces have withdrawn from the border town of Naqoura and returned to Israeli territory. Amos Hochstein stated at a press conference in Beirut that the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the western parts of southern Lebanon has begun and will continue until their complete exit. The Lebanese Army also announced that its forces have been deployed in the town of Naqoura and surrounding areas. Naqoura is located at the southern tip of the Tyre district, and last Tuesday, Israeli forces also withdrew from another town in the same district called Shama; prior to that, the Israeli army had reported the withdrawal of its forces from the town of Khyam in the Marjeyoun region of the Nabatieh province. In recent days, the Prime Minister of Lebanon and United Nations peacekeeping forces had asked Israel to expedite the withdrawal process. Amos Hochstein also stated on Monday after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that he sees no reason for all parties not to adhere to the ceasefire agreement. According to the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army must withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon within a 60-day period, and the Lebanese army will be stationed in these areas alongside UN peacekeepers. Additionally, under this agreement, Hezbollah must move its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border between the two countries.