Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Monday that his government was continuing to implement reforms, extend state authority and restrict arms to the state, stressing the need for continued US support for the Lebanese army to strengthen its capabilities, alongside efforts to rally international support for Lebanon’s recovery and reconstruction.
Salam and Shaheen discuss support for Lebanon
Salam made the remarks during a meeting with US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at the headquarters of Lebanon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, also attended the meeting. The talks covered the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as Lebanese-US relations.
Salam praised Shaheen’s positions in support of Lebanon, specifically highlighting her continued backing for the Lebanese army as the government seeks to strengthen state institutions and expand their authority. The Lebanese prime minister warned of the possibility of a vacuum coinciding with the end of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s mission, known as UNIFIL.
He said his country needed the international presence in southern Lebanon to continue, given the security and field developments in the border area. Shaheen, for her part, called on Lebanon to continue working to restrict arms to the state. She also stressed the importance of Parliament adopting a financial gap law and the authorities proceeding with the required reforms with the aim of reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
Framework agreement sets course for disarmament and withdrawal
The positions came after Lebanon and Israel concluded a framework agreement on 26 June, following five rounds of direct negotiations held under US auspices. The agreement called for the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel’s gradual withdrawal from the areas it controls in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army, beginning in areas described as “pilot” zones.
Despite the agreement, Israeli forces remain present in large areas of southern Lebanon, where they have announced the establishment of a “security zone” extending up to 10 kilometres deep along the border. They have also continued to carry out strikes and extensive demolition and destruction operations in those areas. The framework agreement followed the war that began on 28 February between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.
The war spread to Lebanon on 2 March after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes killed more than 4,300 people.
