Lebanese Prime Minister Celebrates Avoiding Iran-Israel Conflict

BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised his country’s success in avoiding involvement in the Iran-Israel war that started on June 13 during an official visit to Qatar on Tuesday.

Salam praised the ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran that was announced Monday and commended Doha for its efforts to assist in putting a stop to the fighting when he met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar. According to the prime minister’s media office, both leaders concurred that a resolution to the dispute would promote stability in Palestine, Lebanon, and the larger Gulf region.

“We in Lebanon, all of us, have succeeded in preventing the country from being drawn into a new war amid the ongoing regional conflict over the past two weeks,” Salam stated at a joint news conference with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the prime minister and foreign affairs minister of Qatar.

“Now that military operations have stopped, we are eager to start a new chapter that will be centered on diplomatic endeavors.”

Amid its battle with Iran, Israel has been accused of increasing its strikes on targets in southern Lebanon and of violating a ceasefire deal that ended its 14-month war with Hezbollah almost every day.

The day after his flight was rerouted to Bahrain due to Iran’s attack on a US military installation in Qatar, Salam arrived in Doha early on Tuesday. After the event the day before, he was the first passenger to land at the city’s airport and resumed his journey when airspace reopened.

He condemned the attack on Qatar and said he was fully in solidarity with the government and people of the country. Additionally, he said that the Israeli war against Iran violated both international law and Iranian sovereignty.

“The Lebanese state will extend its authority, through its forces, over all Lebanese territory, as stipulated in the Taif Agreement,” Salam stated in response to the potential for Hezbollah to re-enter conflicts.

He went on to say that “Israel must completely leave the Lebanese areas it still occupies, known as the Five Points, to achieve true stability.”

Salam hailed Qatar for its “continued support for the Lebanese army” during discussions with Sheikh Mohammed, his counterpart from Qatar. They reaffirmed calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territories, reconstruction efforts, and the complete restoration of Lebanese sovereignty over its entire territory. They also discussed the necessity of stepping up regional and international efforts to stop Israel’s repeated attacks on Lebanon.

“We are striving to use all available political and diplomatic forces to pressure Israel, beginning with our Arab brothers and extending to the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the United States,” Salam said in reference to the potential for Lebanon to request that Qatar and Türkiye apply diplomatic pressure on Israel to remove its positions in Lebanese territory.

He urged international pressure on Israel “to respect and implement that agreement,” pointing out alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement reached in November.

According to Salam’s media office, Qatari officials expressed their support for initiatives aimed at resolving the Syrian refugee situation in Lebanon and are thinking about “workable plans that would allow for a safe and dignified return to their homes.”

During his visit to Qatar, the prime minister led a team that comprised Ghassan Salameh, the minister of culture; Joe Saddi, the minister of energy and water; Fayez Rasamni, the minister of public works and transportation; and Fadi Makki, the minister of state for administrative reform.