Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has firmly stated that Beirut will not sign any agreement that does not include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. He rejected proposals suggesting the establishment of a buffer zone in southern Lebanon under Israeli control.
Opposition to Buffer Zone
Speaking to the media, the Lebanese prime minister said that Lebanon cannot accept any arrangement that prevents displaced citizens from returning to their villages and towns. He urged the administration of US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel into abandoning what he described as unrealistic demands and to end its occupation of Lebanese land.
State Monopoly on Arms
Commenting on Hezbollah, Nawaf Salam stressed that a state cannot have two armies. He said the government has taken decisive steps, including measures to restrict armed activity outside state authority, aiming to ensure that weapons remain under the exclusive control of the state in the national interest.
Continued Israeli Strikes and Casualties
Meanwhile, despite the announcement of a three-week extension to the ceasefire, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have continued. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, six people were killed and two others injured in overnight Israeli bombardments.
The Israeli military said the strikes targeted Hezbollah positions allegedly used for rocket fire, while also reporting drone attacks against its own forces.
