Latest news with #LebaneseArmy
L'Orient-Le Jour
10 hours ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Salam counts on the 'wisdom' of political leaders to prevent the events in Sweida from destabilizing Lebanon
Caretaker Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Friday night he was relying on the Lebanese Army, the wisdom of political leaders and the awareness of the Lebanese people to prevent the country from being dragged into a new spiral of violence amid sectarian clashes in neighboring Syria. In an interview with Al-Jadeed TV, Salam also confirmed that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is expected in Lebanon early next week to follow up on the implementation of the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. 'We are surrounded by flames. What matters now is how to protect Lebanon from them,' Salam said, referring to the deadly fighting in Syria's southern province of Sweida. 'We can only do that by preserving our national unity and avoiding any adventure or internal conflict.' Over 940 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced in Syria since July 13, as tribal militias and Sunni Bedouins clashed with Druze residents, according to an NGO. The Syrian government declared a second cease-fire on Saturday after another brief truce collapsed. The violence has sparked limited sectarian tensions in parts of Lebanon, particularly the Bekaa Valley and North Lebanon. 'Dangers' and 'opportunities' 'Since day one, I've been in constant contact with all ministers and heads of Lebanon's security forces,' Salam said. 'Syria's stability matters greatly to us and to the Syrian people, considering the potential fallout if the country unravels.' He warned of Lebanon's own painful history: 'We know what it means to kill each other. We lived through that for many years and paid the price. I hope we've all learned the lessons from that time and won't repeat them.' Asked about recent comments by Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, who spoke of a prolonged war and the threat of partition in Syria, Salam said the situation was still fluid. 'Nothing is written yet — everything depends on our behavior. If, God forbid, Syria doesn't stabilize soon, we must hold onto our national unity even more tightly,' he said. 'I'm counting on the army, our leaders' wisdom and the people's awareness, because they do not want to return to those dark days, despite recent incidents in Tripoli and the Bekaa.' Salam ended on a cautiously optimistic note: 'Syria faces many dangers, including the risk of partition, which threatens its unity. But there's also a real opportunity — the fall of the previous regime on Dec. 8, growing Arab support for the new government, and possibly even the lifting of sanctions. I believe Syria is on a path toward stability, despite the challenges.' Awaiting the U.S. envoy Salam confirmed that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is expected in Beirut early next week, though he did not specify whether the visit would begin Monday or Tuesday. It will be Barrack's second trip to Lebanon in two weeks. During his last visit, Barrack received Lebanon's official response to a U.S. proposal aimed at reinforcing the cease-fire agreement reached in November between Israel and Hezbollah. That deal has since been regularly violated by Israeli airstrikes, while Hezbollah has yet to formally commit to transferring its weapons to the state. Salam said the American proposal outlines 'a set of ideas related to implementing the cessation of hostilities statement adopted by the previous government, to which our government has also confirmed its commitment.' At the heart of the proposal is the principle of 'complementarity' between two goals: the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the reassertion of the state's monopoly over weapons. Under the plan, arms would be held only by official bodies: the Lebanese Army, Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, customs and municipal police. 'The roadmap suggests practical steps to implement these two complementary goals gradually,' Salam said. 'This won't happen overnight. We've discussed the plan and provided our comments.'
Nahar Net
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Salam to Qassem: Hand over weapons to Lebanon, not to Israel
Salam to Qassem: Hand over weapons to Lebanon, not to Israel Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has noted that the paper presented to Lebanon by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is for "the implementation of the cessation of hostilities arrangements and not a new agreement" as Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has suggested. Responding to Qassem's remarks that Hezbollah will not "hand over its weapons to Israel," Salam said: "Who has called for handing over the arms to Israel? It not requires to hand over the weapons to Israel but rather to the Lebanese state, and the current (Israeli) attacks against these weapons are regrettable." "We call for the monopolization of arms in the hand of the Lebanese state exclusively, not in the hand of Israel, the U.S. or the devils," Salam added. "The majority of the Lebanese are very clear in demanding the monopolization of arms and the concentration of the war and peace decisions in the hands of the state exclusively," the premier said. Admitting that the continued presence of arms in Hezbollah's hands is hindering the reconstruction process, Salam said there are fears of a possible Israeli escalation. "But in return we have a chance to seriouslu work on implementing Resolution 1701 and engage positively with ideas presented by Barrack, because they would lead to a full Israeli withdrawal and a cessation of hostilities," Salam added. "We have reservations over the paper and we're working on improving it and adding balance to some of its points," the PM said, reassuring that "no one will give up the Lebanese principles." Acknowledging that "had it not been for the resistance's arms, the South would not have been liberated in 2000," Salam lamented that "afterwards we missed a major chance to monopolize arms and equip the Lebanese Army." "And over the past two years, it turned out that arms have not deterred Israel, because it has done what it has done," Salam added.
LBCI
20 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
PM Salam dismisses claims of Hezbollah handing weapons to Israel
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded to remarks made by Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who said the group would not hand over its weapons to Israel. In an interview with Al Jadeed TV, Salam denied that there was ever any discussion about Hezbollah surrendering its weapons to Israel. He said the party's recent vote of confidence in the government during the latest parliamentary session indicates its acceptance of handing over its weapons to the Lebanese Army, in line with the ministerial statement affirming the exclusive right of the state to bear arms. Salam also stressed that no party in Lebanon wants a civil war, and no one has the power to threaten or return to such a conflict. He added that the Lebanese government will convene to adopt and implement a plan to ensure exclusive state control over arms once the details of that plan are finalized.
Saba Yemen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Lebanese Army: We will not allow any breach of Security—Unity, awareness are key
Beirut – SABA: The Lebanese Army affirmed on Friday that it will not permit any breach of national security or disturbance of civil peace. It stressed that overcoming the current phase requires unity, solidarity, and awareness among the Lebanese people regarding the seriousness of the situation, along with a strong sense of national responsibility. In a brief statement, the Army Command said: 'Lebanon is currently facing a set of exceptional circumstances, foremost among them the continued Israeli aggression and violations of national sovereignty, along with internal security challenges, border control, and the region's complex developments.' Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
Nahar Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Army urges Lebanese to show unity, protect civil peace
by Naharnet Newsdesk 18 July 2025, 17:04 The Lebanese Army said Friday that it will not allow 'any security breach or harm against civil peace,' urging the Lebanese not to 'carry out any act that can have uncalculated repercussions on security' amid the current local and regional developments. 'Lebanon is currently facing a host of extraordinary circumstances, most notably the continuation of attacks and violations of national sovereignty by the Israeli enemy, in addition to the challenges of preserving security inside the country, controlling the border, and the complicated developments in the region,' the army said in a statement. 'The army will not allow any security breach or harm against civil peace, and it also stresses that overcoming this period requires the unity of the Lebanese and their solidarity and awareness of the gravity of this period,' the army added, calling on citizens 'not to carry out any act that can have uncalculated repercussions on the security of the Lebanese.' Several Lebanese areas had witnessed road-blocking protests and attacks on Syrian passersby in the wake of the deadly clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni forces and tribesmen in the Druze-majority Syrian city of Sweida. The northern city of Tripoli also witnessed a demo supportive of the new Islamist rulers of Syria.
