Salam: We are proceeding with weapon control and enhancing the capabilities of the Lebanese army

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Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed today, Monday, his government's commitment to continue the path of reforms, asserting the authority of the state and restricting arms to its hands. He emphasized the importance of continued American support for the Lebanese army and enhancing its capabilities, alongside rallying international support for his country in its recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Salam's statements came during his meeting with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at the Lebanese Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, in the presence of Lebanon's Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Maouad.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, in addition to Lebanese-American relations. Salam praised Shaheen's supportive positions towards Lebanon, particularly her ongoing support for the Lebanese army.

He also warned of any potential vacuum that may arise with the end of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission, affirming Lebanon's need for continued international presence in southern Lebanon.

On her part, Shahin emphasized the necessity for Lebanon to continue efforts to confine weapons to the state, affirming the importance of the Parliament approving the financial gap law and moving forward with the required reforms to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

It is noteworthy that Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement on June 26, after five rounds of direct negotiations under American sponsorship, which stipulated the disarmament of Hezbollah and Israel's gradual withdrawal from the territories it occupies in southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army deploying starting from "experimental" areas.

However, Israel continues to occupy vast areas in southern Lebanon, where it announced the establishment of a "security zone" extending 10 kilometers deep along the border, and continues to carry out massive strikes and demolition operations.

The agreement came in the wake of the war that broke out between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other on February 28, before extending to Lebanon on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the American-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. The Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of more than 4,300 people, according to Lebanese authorities.