Khaberni - Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed that the government will not wait for the completion of the Israeli withdrawal to start the necessary preparations for the reconstruction process in the south of the country, emphasizing that reconstruction represents a national commitment and an indivisible right.
Salam said during a press conference on Saturday that the state is continuing to fulfill its responsibilities towards the affected areas, despite the magnitude of the existing challenges.
The statements of the head of government came within the framework of a two-day visit to southern Lebanon to directly observe the field conditions in the southern regions, and to affirm the presence of the Lebanese state and its readiness to take full responsibility towards its citizens.
The tour includes monitoring the conditions of the affected towns, emphasizing the government's commitment to the reconstruction file, working to end the occupation and return the prisoners, as well as affirming the priority of maintaining security and stability, in light of the ongoing Israeli attacks on the south.
Salam stressed that extending the state's authority is not limited to the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the south and the restoration of sovereignty only, but also includes restoring basic services and ensuring the essentials of a decent life for the citizens, affirming that this is considered an integral part of the state's duty towards its people and its land.
"A direct attack on Lebanese sovereignty"
In the same context, the prime minister considered that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon represent a direct attack on Lebanese sovereignty, stressing that Lebanon faces significant challenges in the south, but it will not back down from overcoming them and protecting its national rights.
Israel continues to breach the ceasefire with "Hezbollah" which has been in effect since November 2024, resulting in hundreds of martyrs and wounded, as well as continuing the occupation of 5 Lebanese hills seized by Tel Aviv in the recent war, in addition to other areas it has occupied for decades.
At the end of 2025, the Lebanese army announced that its plan to restrict weapons "achieved the goals of its first phase in the south of the Litani River (without specifying it), and entered an advanced stage", warning that the Israeli attacks and its occupation of Lebanese sites "negatively affect" the completion of that plan.
