Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, an end to attacks and a ceasefire, while insisting that weapons and decisions over war and peace must be placed exclusively under the authority of the Lebanese state.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Salam said Lebanon must not become an “arena for the conflicts of others” or be used as a bargaining chip in wider regional disputes.
He presented the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity as a central priority, calling for Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanese territory and halt military operations. Salam has also emphasized the need for displaced residents to be able to return to their towns and villages.
The Lebanese premier also reiterated his government's position that weapons should be held exclusively by the state. He said decisions concerning war and peace must likewise remain in the hands of Lebanon's constitutional institutions, reflecting the government's broader effort to strengthen state authority across the country.
The issue is closely linked to Lebanon's efforts to implement a framework for de-escalation and restore state control in the south. Salam has previously called for a clear timetable for the completion of the Israeli withdrawal, alongside measures aimed at ending hostilities and supporting the return of residents.
Salam has also raised concerns about the future security arrangements in southern Lebanon as the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approaches its scheduled end. Beirut has called for preparations to prevent a security vacuum and has proposed maintaining an international presence in the south under a new United Nations Security Council mandate.
The Lebanese government's position has received support from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who earlier this week welcomed steps toward ensuring a state monopoly over weapons and stressed that Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be fully respected.
Salam's UN address comes as regional tensions continue to dominate the General Assembly's high-level discussions, with Lebanon seeking international backing for a ceasefire, the restoration of its territorial sovereignty and efforts to strengthen the authority of its state institutions.
