Lebanon’s outgoing PM holds talks with president in Cairo

Saad Al-Hariri, who recently resigned as prime minister of Lebanon, hailed Egypt's position in supporting Lebanon's stability after speaking with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday. Al-Hariri sparked a crisis in Lebanon when he abruptly announced his resignation as prime minister while in Riyadh on 4 November, raising fears about his country's stability.

"I'd like to thank Egypt and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for his support of Lebanon and its stability," Al-Hariri said at a short press briefing following his meeting with El-Sisi, where they discussed the need to "distance Lebanon from regional policies." During the talks, El-Sisi stressed "the need for all parties in Lebanon to reach a consensus, elevate national interests and reject foreign interference in Lebanese internal affairs," according to statement by the presidency.
El-Sisi also highlighted his country's "full support for preserving Lebanon's stability." Al-Hariri had announced his resignation in a televised broadcast from Saudi Arabia. Al-Hariri left Cairo for Beirut shortly after the meeting. He said that he will celebrate Lebanon's Independence Day on Wednesday, adding he would clarify his political position when he returns to Lebanon.
Also on Tuesday, El-Sisi received a telephone call from Lebanese President Michel Aoun, where they discussed bilateral ties and the political situation in Lebanon, El-Sisi’s office said in a statement late on Tuesday.
The two leaders affirmed "the importance of preserving stability in Lebanon as well as prioritising national interests," while pledging to continue intensive coordination and consultation on the situation. Al-Hariri flew to Cairo from Paris, where he held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Al-Hariri’s resignation has not yet been approved by Lebanon's president.
On the other hand, Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun called on the military to be completely prepared on the country’s southern border to “confront Israeli threats and violations,” said the military in a post on its official Twitter account.
Aoun urged soldiers on the eve of Lebanon’s Independence Day to remain vigilant in the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 in cooperation with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, deemed the Lebanese warning as “nonsense.” 
Separately, the Israeli army said that it had been holding a drill near Israel's border with Syria since Sunday. The army commander’s rare acknowledgment of the possibility of a conflict erupting with Israel comes at a time of a political crisis in Lebanon that was sparked by the surprise resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri on November 4.
In his address to the soldiers, Aoun said: “The extraordinary political circumstances that Lebanon is passing through demands that you display the greatest levels of diligence and awareness.”
“You must exert efforts to take the necessary measures to preserve security stability,” he added. The last conflict involving Lebanon and Israel took place in 2006 when Tel Aviv waged a war against the Iranian-backed “Hezbollah” armed group. Lebanon and Israel have been avoiding getting involved in a conflict ever since the end of that 33-day war.