Lebanese Prime Minister Salam said stability could not be achieved before the attacks in the south of the country ended, adding that they wanted the war to end. Speaking in the Lebanese Parliament about the government’s work, Salam said the capacity of the Lebanese army needed to be strengthened to establish state authority across the country and place weapons under the state’s exclusive control.
Salam said an unwanted war had been imposed on Lebanon in March and that they had repeatedly warned about the consequences of entering the conflict as the risk of war increased.
Assessing the cost of the attacks that he said the Israeli army launched on October 8, 2023, and March 2, 2026, Salam said the total cost of the two wars to Lebanon had exceeded $20 billion. He added that the figure could surpass $27 billion once calculations related to the 2026 war were completed.
Salam said approximately 9,000 people had been killed in the attacks and tens of thousands of homes had been destroyed. Saying that part of an area containing more than 75 villages and towns in Lebanese territory remained under occupation, Salam said residents had not yet been able to return to their homes and livelihoods.
Lebanon’s objectives
The Lebanese prime minister said his country’s priorities included Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, the release of all prisoners and the safe and dignified return of the population to the villages and towns to be rebuilt.
Addressing direct negotiations with Israel, Salam said President Joseph Aoun was conducting talks with Israel under U.S. auspices pursuant to Article 52 of the Lebanese Constitution. Stressing that the only party negotiating on behalf of Lebanon was the Lebanese state, Salam said the agreed framework agreement served as a reference for the negotiations.
Salam said the negotiations did not mean relinquishing rights, but rather provided a means of reclaiming those rights through diplomatic channels.
Scale of destruction and need for external financing
Salam said 91,000 homes had been completely or partially destroyed and numerous villages and towns had been completely wiped out in the attacks that he said Israel launched in March.
Salam said the Lebanese government was working to create the conditions necessary for displaced people to return safely and with dignity, adding that the scale of the destruction could not be addressed by the state’s existing resources alone.
Salam said large-scale external financing was needed for reconstruction and recovery, in addition to state resources and support from Arab countries and the international community.
