Lebanese Prime Minister: Deployment of the Army in the South... Restoring the State's Prestige
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that the deployment of the army in the south of the country signifies the restoration of the state’s prestige and authority, with the authorities determined to disarm Hezbollah as a precursor to “reclaiming the decision on peace and war” with Israel.
Salam’s remarks came days after President Joseph Aoun received a letter from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, inviting Lebanon to participate in a meeting hosted by Paris next month to prepare for an international conference dedicated to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Speaking at the command center of the South Litani sector in the city of Sidon (south), Salam addressed military personnel, saying, “The meaning of your presence in the south today is not merely a military deployment; it is the presence of the state. Every site where the army is deployed is a site where the state reclaims its sovereignty, authority, and prestige.”
He added, “We want this south, as well as all of Lebanon, to be under the authority of a single state... and for the country to enjoy stability with the state and its constitutional institutions reclaiming the decision on war and peace,” highlighting the role of military personnel working in “one of the most delicate stages our country is going through, bearing a pivotal responsibility in restoring the state’s full sovereignty and extending its authority over all its territories.”
Following a destructive war waged by Hezbollah and Israel for over a year, which ended with a ceasefire in November 2024, the Lebanese government approved a plan to disarm Hezbollah, stipulating that weapons be confined to legitimate forces, and tasked the army with implementing it.
After hostilities resumed between the two sides on March 2, Lebanon and Israel began direct negotiations under American sponsorship, resulting in the signing of a framework agreement on June 21. This agreement specifically provided for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli state from territories it occupies in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army starting from “experimental” zones.
Lebanon has been receiving international promises of support for the army for years, amid shortages in equipment, personnel, and necessary technical capabilities.
Paris will host on September 17 a preparatory meeting for an international conference to support the Lebanese army and security forces, which was originally scheduled for March last year. However, the outbreak of war between Hezbollah and Israel on the 2nd of that month, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, led to its postponement.
Salam affirmed the government’s work on “mobilizing all possible Arab and international support to develop the human capabilities of the army and modernize its equipment,” while clarifying at the same time that “the strength of the Lebanese army does not rely solely on its weapons and equipment, but also lies in its unity.”
He called on military personnel to preserve the “unity” of their institution. He said, “Do not allow the horrors of politics to divide you, do not allow sectarian issues to infiltrate your ranks, and accept nothing but the Constitution and the law as your reference,” emphasizing that Lebanese people have “no choice but to have one army, one flag, and one state” if they wish to “succeed in extracting the country from its predicament and saving their homeland.”
