Lebanese PM warns against dragging country into 'new adventure serving foreign interests'

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned on Wednesday against the dangers of dragging his country into “any new reckless adventure in service of external interests.” Speaking to journalists after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace, Salam said, “In light of the risks of renewed war in the region, I reiterate my warning against the dangers of dragging Lebanon into any new reckless adventure in service of external interests and plunging it into confrontations for which it lacks the luxury of bearing the consequences.” He noted that Lebanese people, especially those in the south, have paid heavy prices in terms of lives, livelihoods, and homes, and that they have the right to live in safety and build their future away from the vortex of war, displacement, and destruction. He stressed that protecting Lebanon is a national responsibility that requires prioritizing its supreme interests over any other consideration and committing to ensuring that decisions on war and peace rest exclusively with the state and its constitutional institutions. Salam said, “We will not accept that a destiny the Lebanese have not chosen be imposed upon them, nor that their country once again become a battleground for others’ conflicts. It is our duty to safeguard its sovereignty, protect its people, and make every effort to spare it a new war.” He expressed his condemnation and disapproval of “any Lebanese elements or groups intervening in the internal affairs of Arab brotherly countries, particularly engaging in any form of military activities that threaten the security and integrity of their countries, as recently declared by the government of brotherly Yemen.” He added, “These actions can only result in harm to Lebanon and the interests of its sons,” emphasizing his strong commitment to “respecting the sovereignty and security of our brothers, preventing harm to them, and looking forward to strengthening and developing our relations with them on a firm foundation of mutual trust.”