Prime Minister Nawaf Salam responded to Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem’s statements, affirming in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that no Lebanese desires a return to civil war, after Qassem warned that disarming his party could bring the country back to conflict.

Salam said Qassem’s remarks are “propaganda directed at the party’s audience,” emphasizing that the Lebanese government is patriotic and makes decisions through the cabinet, and that the exclusivity of arms is the state’s duty. The resistance’s weapons must remain under the supervision of the state and the Lebanese army to protect against any external attacks.

He said: “It is forbidden to say that this government is subject to dictates. Unfortunately, I do not want to say this to avoid disputes, but I know who is subject to dictates, who listens to dictates, and who considers himself an extension of external parties. None of us in this government considers himself an extension of any external party.”

Regarding the Lebanese army, he said: “The state’s army is the national state army, not the army of other parties under any pretext. Does our army need reinforcement? Certainly, it needs reinforcement. This is what we seek. We want a stronger army.”

He continued: “No one asks Sheikh Naim to hand over his weapons to Israel. On the contrary, we do not accept anyone handing over their weapons to Israel. We want to protect the resistance’s weapons from Israeli strikes. It is forbidden for these weapons to be left in warehouses that Israel targets. What we demand is the exclusivity of weapons in the hands of the state. This means handing these weapons over to the Lebanese state and its national army. If anyone doubts the patriotism of the Lebanese army, let them come forward and tell us.”

Salam stressed that no party or other political faction has the right to bear arms in Lebanon, affirming that the new government has developed an executive plan to confine weapons to the state after many years of delay in implementing the Taif Agreement.

He added that implementing this plan is necessary to achieve security and stability, attract investments, and rebuild.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the threat of civil war is unacceptable and that Lebanese from all regions do not want to return to previous conflicts, affirming that the government is working to enforce the law and impose state authority over all Lebanese territories.

Salam explained: “People ask us for an executive plan for the exclusivity of weapons. This is what we have come with today and put in place. No one should tell us that this is what the US envoy Tom Barrett or the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian wants, or that it is the result of external dictates. This is fundamentally a Lebanese demand that Lebanese people delayed implementing for 10, 20, and 30 years. I believe the time has come. Lebanese people have the right today to enjoy stability. All Lebanese have the right to enjoy security and feel safe. Without security, safety, and stability, the country cannot stand on its feet, and we will not receive investments or reconstruction funds. We committed to reconstruction, and I want to be able to raise the necessary funds for reconstruction and also to attract investments.

This will not happen if people do not feel the security and safety that requires the exclusivity of weapons.”