Nawaf Salam

Qatar Pledges Continued Economic and Political Support to Lebanon

During a visit to Beirut, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi announced a new aid package for Lebanon, including $40 million dedicated to the electricity sector, alongside development, and humanitarian initiatives. President Aoun reaffirmed the importance of Qatar’s support and expressed gratitude for ...

Qatar Pledges $480 Million and Plans to Rebuild Three Destroyed Villages in South Lebanon

Qatar has decided to allocate $480 million to fund projects and investments in Lebanon, while preparing to rebuild three destroyed villages in the south, according to information obtained by daily An-Nahar. The initiative is reminiscent of Doha’s role in post-war reconstruction following the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The ...

Salam, Macron Discuss Lebanese Sovereignty, Security and Reforms in Paris

On Friday evening, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss Lebanon’s internal reforms and consolidation of state control.  Salam reiterated that the Lebanese state is committed to its goal of confiscating all non-state weapons on Lebanese territory. Macron stated that France will ...

Salam Says Lebanon to Expand State Control as International Confidence Grows

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday that Lebanon has full operational control over southern Lebanon and will expand operations north of the Litani river as international engagement with Lebanon increases.  Salam outlined a two-part policy driving the Lebanese state’s governance goals: institutional and ...

PM Salam: Arms Consolidation Plan Covers All Lebanese Territory

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated on Thursday that the Lebanese Army’s (LAF) plan to consolidate all arms under state authority applies to the entirety of Lebanon, not only areas south of the Litani River, underscoring the government’s commitment to restoring the state’s exclusive control over weapons. In an interview with ...

The ‘Five-Nation Committee’ Confirms Support for Lebanese State

The five-nation committee of ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States met with Lebanese Prime Minister Salam to discuss the ongoing weapons inventory, among other issues, reaffirming their support for the Lebanese state and urging timely progress on the disarmament file. Egyptian diplomat Alaa Moussa said, “We ...

Syria and Lebanon: Who Is Moving Forward in 2026?

Entering 2026, Syria and Lebanon stand at an inflection point along the region’s active fault line. While both nations shook off paralysis at roughly the same time a year ago, neither has become truly stable. What separates them is the nature of the risks they face in the near and medium-term as the Middle East undergoes uneasy post-war ...

Hezbollah Receives ‘Last-Chance Advice’ from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey to Disarm

Lebanese ministerial officials say Hezbollah on Wednesday received “last-chance advice” from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to hand over its weapons to Lebanon’s government, according to the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.  According to the sources, the countries warned the militant group that failing to disarm would isolate ...

After the Vote: Exposing the Gap Law’s Broken Promises

Lebanon’s cabinet on December 19 approved one of the most controversial pieces of legislation since the country’s financial collapse in 2019, adopting the so-called “Gap Law” in a narrow vote that has reignited public anger and raised serious concerns among economists, legal experts, and international observers. Backed by 13 ministers ...

Lebanon Signs Deal to Purchase Natural Gas from Egypt

Lebanon said Monday it plans to purchase natural gas from Egypt, seeking to reduce its reliance on fuel oil for its ageing power plants in a country hamstrung by regular electricity cuts. The electricity sector has cost Lebanon more than $40 billion since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war, and successive governments have failed to reduce losses, ...

Lebanon’s Cabinet Divided Over Controversial Financial Gap Law

The controversial financial Gap Law presented as key to resolving Lebanon’s enduring banking crisis that deprived depositors of their savings, topped discussions at Monday’s cabinet meeting, exposing differences among ministers.  The session, attended by Central Bank Governor Karim Souaid, was adjourned and will resume Tuesday to ...

Hezbollah Allegedly Strengthens Hold on Beirut Port Amid Disarmament Doubts

Despite the Lebanese cabinet’s move to impose a firm deadline for the disarmament of militias, developments on the ground point to a “lack of seriousness” in enforcing the decision against Hezbollah, a security source told This is Beirut on condition of anonymity, questioning whether the government’s commitment is backed by concrete ...