Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Oct. 2 called for a renewed push to secure Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanon and to strengthen state authority, amid continuing Israeli attacks in the south of the country, said an Anadolu report.
Addressing a news conference during a visit to the southern city of Nabatieh, Salam said the way forward lay in mobilising all available resources and support to achieve a complete Israeli withdrawal and rebuild a capable state with a single army and a single decision-making authority. He said such an approach would help spare Lebanon from new wars and remove any pretext for a fresh or expanded Israeli attack.
Salam listed Lebanon’s immediate priorities as halting Israeli attacks, securing a full Israeli withdrawal, enabling displaced residents to safely return home, and restoring livelihoods and rebuilding communities in the south. He stressed that Lebanon could not afford to wait for a broader regional settlement, saying such a settlement might never materialise, could be delayed for years, or could ultimately come at Lebanon’s expense.
Israel has reportedly carried out attacks on Lebanon since March 2 that have killed at least 4,386 people, injured 12,413 others, and displaced more than a million residents.On June 26, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored ‘framework formula’ providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Despite the agreement, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued.