Nawaf Salam

Reactions to UN Decision on UNIFIL Mandate

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed on Thursday the United Nations Security Council’s decision to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until December 31, 2026. President Aoun thanked all 15 Security Council members for their unanimous support, singling out France as penholder for ...

Hezbollah Escalates Rhetoric After Barrack’s Visit

Hezbollah raised its tone once again on Wednesday, a day after US envoys Tom Barrack and Morgan Ortagus’ visit to Beirut, during which international support for restoring Lebanese sovereignty over the entire national territory was reaffirmed. Hussein Khalil, political aide to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, renewed threats and leveled ...

Salam in Cairo: Lebanon and Egypt Commit to Deepening Bilateral Cooperation

Lebanon and Egypt have agreed to strengthen their cooperation across a range of sectors, with Cairo expressing its readiness to support the reconstruction of areas devastated by the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Egypt also pledged assistance in reinforcing state authority throughout Lebanon’s national territory. The decision ...

Salam Arrives in Cairo

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived in Cairo on Tuesday at the head of a Lebanese delegation for an official visit to Egypt. According to information obtained by al-Markazia news agency, the visit will focus on launching the Lebanese-Egyptian Business Council and on holding talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on regional and bilateral ...

Lebanon Pushes Ahead with Reconstruction

The Ministerial Committee for Reconstruction and Economic Recovery, chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, met on Monday at the Grand Serail with Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi, Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed, Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage, Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny and ...

Salam Meets US Congress Members

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with US Congress members Darin LaHood and Steve Cohen at the Grand Serail on Friday, in the presence of US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, LaHood commended the Lebanese government for extending state authority nationwide, centralizing arms under state control ...

Geagea Calls for Full Compliance with Government Decision on Weapons

Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea stressed on Friday the need for all parties to abide by the government’s decision affirming the state’s exclusive control over weapons, following his meeting at the Grand Serail with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Geagea underlined that the decision, which asserts the government’s monopoly on arms, ...

Gemayel Slams Rhetoric Against Patriarch Rai

Kataeb Party Chief Sami Gemayel on Thursday condemned recent remarks targeting Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, describing them as “unacceptable.” In his remarks after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Gemayel warned that such rhetoric is “counterproductive to efforts for national consensus.” In parallel, he reaffirmed his ...

Northern Lebanon Eyes Revival of Kleiate Airport

Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny underscored the strategic importance of reopening Rene Mouawad Airport in Kleiate, describing it as “a cornerstone for boosting commercial and tourism activity in the North.” In his remarks during a visit to Abdel Wahab Island in Tripoli on Monday, Rasamny said that the economic feasibility ...

Issa Sees ‘New Day’ for Lebanon

US Congressman Darrell Issa affirmed on Friday that “this is a new day for Lebanon,” highlighting that “significant progress has been made in recent days.” Speaking after his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Issa described the developments as a “rebirth for Lebanon,” focusing on reconstruction efforts and urgent needs across ...

Lebanon’s Death by a Thousand Hezbollah Cuts

It took Lebanon’s cabinet six months to even begin discussing the fate of Hezbollah’s arsenal. Whatever decision emerges will go to the Higher Defense Council for further deliberation and planning, then to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to devise an implementation strategy. If each step takes as long as the first, disarming Hezbollah could be ...