Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated on Monday the necessity for Israel to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and called for its withdrawal from the Lebanese territories it occupies in the south. Salam made these remarks during his meeting at the government headquarters with US Congress members Representatives Darin Lahood and Steve Cohen, in the presence of US Ambassador to Beirut Lisa Johnson and accompanying delegation, according to a statement from Salam’s office. He emphasized the “need for Israel to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and withdraw from the territories it still occupies, enabling the army to complete its deployment in the south.” Since its last war on Lebanon, Israel, supported by the United States, has occupied areas in the south as well as other Lebanese territories it has held for decades.

Salam also stressed the necessity to “stop Israel’s hostile acts and release prisoners, paving the way for reconstruction and recovery.” He stated that “the Lebanese army is the army of all Lebanese, and supporting and equipping it with the necessary capabilities is a fundamental pillar for enhancing security and stability.” On October 8, 2023, Israel launched an aggression against Lebanon that escalated into a wide war on September 23, 2024, resulting in over 4,000 deaths and about 17,000 injuries. On November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect, but Tel Aviv violated it more than 3,000 times, causing 282 deaths and 604 injuries, according to official data. Defying the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army carried out a partial withdrawal from southern Lebanon while continuing to occupy five hills it controlled during the last war.

Lahood praised “the measures taken by the Lebanese government so far to extend state authority over all its territories and to monopolize weapons in its hands, in addition to ongoing judicial and financial reforms.” He considered that “these steps contribute to restoring the international community’s confidence in Lebanon,” according to the statement. On August 5, the Lebanese cabinet approved monopolizing weapons, including Hezbollah’s weapons, by the state and tasked the army with preparing a plan for this purpose before the end of the current month and implementing it before the end of 2025. Lahood added that “the Lebanese army plays a fundamental role in enhancing security and stability.” He stressed “his continuous efforts within Congress to ensure continued support for the army,” according to the agency.

The meeting also touched on “the importance of renewing the mandate of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force) at this stage to support the Lebanese army in enhancing its deployment in the south.” Earlier on Monday, the Israeli government claimed it would reduce its occupation of areas in southern Lebanon if Beirut takes “necessary steps” to disarm Hezbollah. Repeatedly, Hezbollah has affirmed its adherence to its weapons as long as Israel continues to occupy Lebanese lands and rejected the cabinet’s decision to monopolize weapons, threatening it could lead to a “civil war.” In addition to Lebanese lands, Israel has occupied Palestine and Syrian territories for decades, refusing to withdraw and to allow the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders.