Salam: I discussed the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the control of arms with Rubio

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed today, Monday, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, the developments in Lebanon and the region and the path to restoring the full sovereignty of the Lebanese state, emphasizing the necessity of achieving a complete Israeli withdrawal and confining weapons to the state across its entire territory.

Salam stated in a post on his account on the "X" platform that he met with Rubio at the U.S. Department of State, confirming that Lebanon looks forward to a "renewed partnership" with the United States that accompanies the project of rebuilding the state and strengthening its legitimate institutions.

The Lebanese Prime Minister stressed the need to move to the activation phase of the "trilateral framework" agreed upon with Israel, and to transform the principles of reciprocity and gradualism into practical steps and tangible results on the ground, leading to the full restoration of Lebanon's sovereignty and achieving a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories and confining weapons to the state.

Salam emphasized the importance of establishing a clear timeline for implementing the commitments outlined in the framework agreement, ensuring parallel progress in both the Israeli withdrawal and the consolidation of the Lebanese state's authority and the exclusivity of weapons.

He also called for the establishment of a reliable verification mechanism to monitor implementation and ensure compliance with commitments, preventing the use of non-implementation as an excuse to disrupt the process.

Salam explained that the "triple framework" is not limited to security arrangements, but also includes supporting the government's efforts in relief, recovery, and reconstruction, in addition to rehabilitating infrastructure and basic services and creating conditions for the return of displaced persons and their stabilization in their areas.

In this context, he emphasized the importance of mobilizing American and international support for the return and recovery process, especially in areas affected by the war.

Salam affirmed the importance of continued American support for the Lebanese army and enhancing its capabilities, enabling it to fulfill its responsibilities and extend the state's authority over all Lebanese territories.

For his part, Rubio, according to Salam's tweet, reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting Lebanon and its legitimate institutions, continuing to support the Lebanese army and enhancing its capabilities, while also stressing the importance of proceeding with the implementation of the "triple framework" to achieve security and stability.