CAIRO, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has held talks with counterparts from Türkiye, Syria, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Russia to address escalating violence in Syria, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Acting on President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi's instructions, Abdelatty conducted a series of phone calls on Wednesday to assess the rapid developments in Syria and their implications for regional security and stability, the ministry said in a statement.
Abdelatty confirmed "Egypt's unwavering support for the Syrian state," stressing the need to respect Syria's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. He called for coordinated regional and international efforts to de-escalate the situation, warning that further deterioration could endanger both regional and global security.
The minister also reiterated Egypt's rejection of any actions inciting sectarian divisions or infringing on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Abdelatty's discussions with U.S. and Russian officials focused on finding ways to halt the escalation, the ministry added. The conversations are part of Egypt's broader diplomatic efforts to monitor the situation in Syria in coordination with regional and international actors.
In a separate statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Abdelatty and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed developments in the wider West Asia region over the phone, agreeing to maintain dialogue and consultations. Araghchi emphasized the importance of continued diplomatic engagement in addressing the crisis.
Since Nov. 27, Syrian rebel groups, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have launched a significant offensive in northern Syria, seeking to advance into government-controlled areas. By Thursday, the rebel forces have seized major cities such as Aleppo and Hama. ■
