Prime Minister Nawaf Salam linked the process of extending the Lebanese state’s sovereignty over all regions of the south to the necessity of achieving a complete Israeli withdrawal according to a specific timetable, indicating that there is a consensus with Washington in this regard.
In statements made exclusively to the “Al Sharq Bloomberg” platform, Salam affirmed Lebanon’s commitment to extending its sovereignty, pointing out that the Lebanese agreed to confine arms to the state alone, and stressed that Hezbollah must adhere to this approach. Regarding international forces, he indicated that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will not continue in its current form, without revealing details of the expected alternative arrangements.
At the regional level, the Prime Minister revealed that he requested the appointment of a new Iranian ambassador to succeed the previous ambassador, stressing his country’s aspiration to open a new page with Tehran in which relations are based on mutual respect. He concluded by emphasizing that Lebanon has missed many opportunities, and that its government is determined to fulfill its national obligations.
These statements coincide with the continuation of regional and international discussions about the future of the international presence in the south, in parallel with the Lebanese insistence on the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the imposition of state authority, amid existing questions regarding implementation mechanisms and their practical timetable.
