Beirut (TDI): Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the country, and promised residents of border villages a safe return home and reconstruction of their properties.
Salam was speaking during a trip to the border area amid a partial Israel withdrawal.
However, Israeli forces continue to occupy 5 strategic hills in the region, blocking the road connecting the border areas.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s visit to areas near the border with Israel that suffered wide destruction during the war came two days after his government secured a vote of confidence in parliament.
Salam said that the Lebanese military is fulfilling its responsibilities, reinforcing its deployment with determination to ensure peace in the south and the safe return of our citizens to their native villages and homes.”
Read More: Lebanon Calls for Action on Ceasefire Commitments
He said that the military is in charge of defending the country and it should preserve its security, protect its people, sovereignty, unity and security of its territory.
After his government secured a confidence vote in parliament this week, Salam visited the military’s barracks in Tyre and Marjayoun, Khiam and Nabatieh.
Ministers and Maj. Gen. Hassan Aoude, the acting army commander, also accompanied him.
The visit came hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that “Israel has received a green light from the Unted States to stay in the buffer zone in southern Lebanon.”
He said that “our troops will stay indefinitely in the buffer zone, south of Lebanon.”
Read More: Macron Visits Lebanon to Meet New Leaders
Salam traveled to the Benoit Barakat Barracks in Tyre by military helicopter.
Salam and his delegation held a meeting at the sector’s headquarters with commander of the southern Litani sector in the Lebanese army Brig. General Edgar Lawandos.
