CIA chief meets Egyptian leader to discuss Middle East conflicts

Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns has arrived in Cairo for negotiations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. 

The discussions focused on the situations in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

President al-Sisi emphasised the urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon.

In talks regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza, he highlighted the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to the enclave.

Meanwhile, US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein and Senior Adviser to the President on Middle Eastern Affairs Brett McGurk are scheduled to arrive in Israel on October 31, to discuss the resolution processes for the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as "other regional issues."

Following his conversation with Hochstein, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism regarding the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel.

Moreover, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed optimism on October 30 regarding the potential announcement of a ceasefire deal with Israel, which he hopes could be confirmed within days. This follows reports from Israel's public broadcaster, Kan, which published what it claimed to be a draft agreement outlining a preliminary 60-day truce.

According to the document, reportedly a leaked proposal from Washington, Israel would withdraw its forces from Lebanon during the first week of the ceasefire period. 

Mikati admitted he had initially doubted the feasibility of reaching a deal before the US presidential election. However, following a conversation on October 30 with US envoy for the Middle East, Amos Hochstein, he has become more hopeful. 

During the call, Mikati stated that Hochstein indicated an agreement could be reached before the end of October and before November 5.

"We are doing everything we can and we should remain optimistic that in the coming hours or days, we will have a ceasefire," Mikati told Lebanon’s Al Jadeed television.

By Aghakazim Guliyev