Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam calls for exclusive state control over arms

BEIRUT — Addressing the Lebanese Parliament, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized the need for exclusive state control over weapons, asserting that the authority to decide on matters of war and peace must rest solely with the Lebanese state.

“We strive for a state where the government alone determines issues of war and peace,” Salam declared.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to extending state sovereignty across all Lebanese territory using the nation’s own forces. He underscored plans to deploy the Lebanese Army along the country’s borders and reiterated Lebanon’s right to self-defense in the face of aggression.

Salam also vowed to take all necessary measures to liberate any Lebanese territory still under occupation, signaling the government’s resolve to protect national sovereignty.

On the issue of Syrian refugees, Salam warned of existential repercussions for Lebanon if the crisis persists without a resolution. He stressed the importance of facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland to alleviate the strain on Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Raad, the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, announced the group’s decision to grant confidence to Salam’s government. He expressed Hezbollah’s willingness to cooperate with the new administration, paving the way for potential collaboration on national priorities.