Beirut: Iraq agreed on Saturday to supply Lebanon with fuel for six months and reiterated its commitment to contributing to the country's reconstruction following the Israeli war. In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held talks over the phone with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sudani informed the Lebanese speaker of his approval 'to grant an exemption to the Iraqi Ministry of Oil to supply Lebanon with fuel for six months,' the statement said. The Iraqi premier affirmed his country's support for 'Lebanon's security and stability' and reiterated commitment to 'contributing to the country's reconstruction.'

The statement also conveyed Berri's gratitude towards the Iraqi premier for supporting Lebanon and its sovereignty. Berri emphasized his keenness to maintain communication with Iraq across various sectors. This collaboration is a continuation of the agreement signed in 2021, in which Baghdad agreed to supply Beirut with fuel in exchange for Lebanon providing services, including healthcare, to Iraqi citizens.

Over recent years, Lebanon has experienced a significant increase in power outages due to financial distress, which has hindered the government's ability to secure foreign currency for fuel imports. Previously, Lebanon's power production ranged between 1,600 and 2,000 megawatts daily, but the fuel shortage has led to unprecedentedly low production levels, exacerbating the energy crisis.