Salam: Intensive Efforts to Stop the Israeli War and Protect Lebanese Citizens and Refugees

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the state is doing everything possible, politically and diplomatically, to halt the Israeli war on Lebanon and reduce its catastrophic consequences on the Lebanese population in general and on refugees in particular.”

Salam noted that diplomatic efforts have not yet produced the desired results due to Lebanon’s entanglement in regional crises and the ongoing war, which could have been avoided if not for the strategic mistake committed by Hezbollah, whose involvement has led to catastrophic consequences for Lebanon and the environment it claims to protect. He reiterated that this war affects all Lebanese and is not in their interest, making its cessation today, rather than tomorrow, an urgent national necessity.

The Prime Minister highlighted that external efforts are confronted by significant Israeli intransigence and U.S. preoccupation with the ongoing war and its serious repercussions on Gulf security. He also expressed surprise and condemnation at Iran’s targeting, noting that these actions threaten regional security despite Lebanon’s historical attempts to maintain friendly ties.

Salam confirmed the government’s determination to implement its recent decisions banning Hezbollah’s security and military activities, emphasizing that the state, through its armed forces and judiciary, is fulfilling its responsibilities, though the war circumstances make implementation more challenging.

He further addressed stricter visa measures for Iranians, citing intelligence indicating that some individuals suspected of belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard could pose a threat to Lebanon’s national security. Salam stressed that Lebanon seeks the best possible relations with Iran, but strictly on a state-to-state basis, rejecting any linkage of Lebanese interests to those of another country.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the humanitarian suffering caused by the mass displacement of residents from southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut, noting that the government is working with all its capacities to alleviate the crisis and provide essential needs such as shelter, food, and medicine—a major challenge given the state’s limited resources—overseen personally by Salam through the government’s Disaster Unit Operations Room at the Grand Serail.