Lebanese Prime Minister: Deployment of the Army in the South Represents State Presence and Restoration of Sovereignty, and Strengthening Its Capabilities Is a Strategic Choice
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Friday that the deployment of the army in the south represents the state’s presence and the restoration of its sovereignty, authority, and prestige. He stressed that the government remains committed to building a capable state and constitutional institutions that reclaim their responsibility in decisions regarding war and peace.
Speaking during his visit to the “Benno Barakat” barracks in the city of Sidon, Salam said, “Every site where the army is deployed is a site where the state reclaims its sovereignty, authority, and prestige,” emphasizing that a state cannot be strong and capable without a single, powerful army.
He underscored that enhancing the army’s capabilities constitutes a “strategic choice” at the core of the government’s project to restore state authority, affirming the continuation of efforts to mobilize Arab and international support to develop the army’s capabilities and human resources, modernize its equipment, and improve the living and social conditions of its soldiers.
Salam reiterated that the government wants the south, as well as all of Lebanon, to be under the authority of a single state, with citizens enjoying security and stability, and with state institutions reclaiming their decision-making power on war and peace.
He pointed out that the army’s strength does not rely solely on weapons, equipment, and manpower, but also on its unity and cohesion. He called on military personnel to preserve the unity of the military institution and prevent political or sectarian interests from infiltrating its ranks, ensuring that the constitution and the law remain their sole reference.
Salam stated that the army represents one of the institutions where Lebanese people come together as citizens of a single homeland, beyond sectarian and regional divisions, reaffirming the government’s commitment to functioning as a cohesive government in accordance with constitutional requirements.
Salam noted that the south has paid “the highest price with its sons and its land,” expressing pride in the army personnel who carry out their duties during one of the most delicate phases Lebanon is going through, amid ongoing Israeli aggression.
Salam had arrived in Sidon by helicopter, where he reviewed the operations and deployment of the South Litani sector, and met with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, and the sector commander.
