Lebanese Premier Mikati thanks Türkiye for its support

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) - Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati on Tuesday thanked Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan for Türkiye's support for its neighbor.

During a meeting in the capital Beirut, Mikati thanked Türkiye for its support in restoring the Foreign Ministry building, which was damaged in the massive 20202 Beirut Port explosion, saying it was most welcome amid the current conditions of his country, said a statement by Mikati’s office.

During the meeting, bilateral relations and the current situation in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip were also discussed.

Mikati said the current priority is "to stop Israel's war on Gaza and its attacks on southern Lebanon."

Fidan also met his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bouhabib and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Joseph Aoun.

Since earlier this month, tensions have flared along the Israeli-Lebanese border, with exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

The escalation came amid a massive Israeli air campaign in the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas into Israeli border towns.

More than 4,400 people have been killed in the armed conflict, including at least 3,001 Palestinians and more than 1,400 Israelis.