Top US official in Beirut to mediate Lebanon-Israel maritime border dispute

US Acting Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield is visiting Beirut as Washington mediates a maritime border dispute with Israel.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

15 May, 2019

Washington is mediating a maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel. [Getty]

US Acting Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield on Wednesday met with Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.

Satterfield arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday, beginning a two-day visit as Washington mediates a maritime border dispute with Israel.

His trip comes a week after Lebanese President Michel Aoun presented the US ambassador to Lebanon with a "unified stance" regarding the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel.

Last month, Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told the commander of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Maj. Gen. Stefano del Col, that Beirut was ready to establish the maritime border and special economic zone with Israel.

There are some 860 square kilometers of waters claimed by the two countries, which are technically in a state of conflict.

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