Lebanese PM Demands Israeli Withdrawal at UN, Calls for State Arms Monopoly

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, demanded the complete withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese territory. He called for adherence to internationally recognized borders and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Salam emphasized that Lebanon's sovereignty requires the state to reestablish its authority over the entire country, asserting that only the state should possess weapons and that decisions on war and peace must be made solely by Lebanese constitutional institutions.

Salam characterized the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah as a war Lebanon was drawn into, despite repeated warnings about escalation risks. He stated that no organization other than the Lebanese state can speak or negotiate on behalf of the country. He also expressed concern about a potential security vacuum in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL), advocating for a new international force to handle monitoring, liaison, and reporting tasks after UNIFIL's departure.

Furthermore, the Lebanese prime minister condemned Iranian attacks on several Arab states, expressing solidarity with Gulf states and Jordan against Tehran's actions, which he believes threaten regional security and maritime navigation.