Lebanese Prime Minister: $20 billion cost of the last two Israeli wars on the country

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that the cost of Israel’s two recent wars on Lebanon has exceeded $20 billion and could reach $27 billion by the end of 2026.

During a parliamentary accountability session in the Lebanese Parliament, Salam clarified that the World Bank estimated the cost of the first war, which began on October 8, 2023, at approximately $14 billion, including about $7.2 billion in physical damages and $6.8 billion in economic losses. Meanwhile, the direct cost of the latest war, which began on March 2, ranges between $3 billion and $4 billion, with additional economic losses amounting to at least $4 billion to $5 billion so far.

He added that the human toll has reached approximately 9,000 killed and more than 30,000 wounded, while over 75 villages and towns remain unable to return to their homes.

Salam noted that more than 250,000 Lebanese remain displaced, and the latest war has completely or partially destroyed 91,000 housing units, adding to the roughly 230,000 units damaged during the previous conflict.

He pointed out that Lebanon’s economy has shifted from 4.2 percent growth last year to an estimated contraction of 6.4 percent this year, driven by accelerating inflation due to rising global oil prices resulting from the regional war, declining remittances from expatriates, and a halt in tourism activity.

Salam emphasized that the scale of destruction far exceeds the state’s capacity to bear it alone with its current resources, calling for substantial Arab and international support and external financing.

He stressed that there can be no sustainable stability without the state extending its authority over its entire territory using its own forces alone, and reserving the decision on war and peace exclusively to the state.