Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam launches the process of restoring state institutions to work in Nabatieh and confirms that weapons are restricted to the state

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam launched the process of restoring state institutions to work in the city of Nabatieh (south of the country), which was exhausted by the recent war, reaffirming his approach based on restoring the state’s presence and the necessity of working to achieve complete Israeli withdrawal, stressing that Lebanon cannot wait for a major regional settlement that may be delayed or come at its expense.

Salam stressed that the guarantee lies in one state, with one army and one decision, especially the decision of war and peace, indicating that he says in Nabatieh what he said in Washington, and does not change his positions between inside and outside.

Salam set the priorities of his government to stop the Israeli attacks, achieve complete withdrawal, the safe return of the people, and launch reconstruction, acknowledging that the extent of the needs exceeds the capabilities of the state. He also announced the launch of 23 tenders in the Nabatieh district and work on 12 additional tenders, in parallel with restarting official institutions and restoring public facilities. He stressed that the return of state institutions to work constitutes an essential part of restoring life to the city and supporting the steadfastness of its people. After the end of his tour, Salam visited the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and put him in the atmosphere of the visit and meetings he held in Nabatieh.

The issue of arms control and the state’s authority in the south has once again advanced to the forefront of Lebanese political positions, coinciding with the continuation of Israeli raids, bombings and bombings in a number of towns. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that the army and legitimate security forces are the only reference for the security of citizens, while he called on the Maronite bishops to support the ongoing negotiations and the process of restricting weapons to the state.

Aoun's position came during his reception of a delegation from the municipality of Deir Mimas, which has a Christian majority located south of the Litani River. He linked the steadfastness of the population in their land to the role of the state and its institutions, stressing that the southerners’ adherence to their land “is the most eloquent response to all attempts at displacement, intimidation, and attacks committed by Israel,” stressing that the state will remain alongside the people of the south, those who are steadfast and those forcibly displaced from their villages and towns, until the end of the Israeli occupation or the siege on every southern village.

Limitation of weapons and the decision on war and peace

The issue of weapons exclusivity was attended at the meeting from the entrance to the demands of the people of Deir Mimas. Mayor Tania Barnabh, on behalf of the delegation, affirmed the people’s appreciation for Aoun’s insistence that weapons be restricted to the Lebanese state, and that the decision on war and peace should return to it and its legitimate institutions, first and foremost the army and security forces throughout Lebanese territory.

Barnaba presented the reality that the town and its people are experiencing in light of the exceptional security, economic and humanitarian conditions, stressing that they are “keen for the town to remain a living part of the Lebanese state, present in its institutions and services, and for its people not to feel abandoned or isolated from the rest of the Lebanese forces.”

There is no security reference outside the country

In his response to the delegation, Aoun saluted the steadfastness of the town’s residents, expressing his solidarity with the people in the damage, suffering and displacement they endure, like other southerners, whether those who remained in their villages or those who were forcibly displaced as a result of Israeli attacks.

He said: “The state is present, as much as the security conditions allow in each region, to protect its people and provide the elements of steadfastness,” considering this “a national priority that cannot be compromised, and there will only be the Lebanese army and the legitimate security forces, the only authority responsible for the security of citizens.”

He stressed that “political, diplomatic and negotiating efforts are continuing to stop the Israeli attacks, restore stability, achieve complete withdrawal from the occupied territories, deploy the army to the internationally recognized southern border, return the people to their villages, begin reconstruction, and support municipalities to enable them to carry out their role, and secure basic services such as electricity, water, roads, schools and health centres.”

The bishops support negotiations and arms control

Aoun's position on the exclusiveness of the security authority intersected with the position of the Council of Maronite Bishops, which, in its monthly meeting in Bkerke, placed stopping Israeli attacks, supporting negotiations, and restricting weapons to the state in one context.

The bishops said in their statement: “The members of the Council repeatedly denounce the continuation of the Israeli attacks on the south and its people and call on the international community to make efforts for the return of the population to their land and to support the ongoing negotiations and the process of restricting weapons to the state.”

Nabatieh Al-Fawqa... returning on foot under threat

Following the visit of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Nabatieh, the scene of Nabatieh Al-Fawqa reflected the extent of the complications that still hinder returning to some southern towns. A number of the town's residents entered on foot despite Israeli threats, in a step that reflected their commitment to reaching their town in light of the continuing security conditions that prevent a normal and complete return.

The scene intersected with the messages carried by Salam's visit regarding stabilizing the people in their land and restoring state institutions to their role, but at the same time it showed the gap between the path of return pushed by the government and the field reality that is still governed by Israeli threats and operations.

Continuous field escalation

The political positions coincided with the continued Israeli escalation in the south, where operations were distributed between artillery shelling, raids, and bombing operations in a number of towns.

Field information reported that Israeli bombing targeted Mays al-Jabal, while the Israeli army carried out sweeping operations with machine guns towards the outskirts of Baraashit, and major explosions in the towns of Beit Lev and Aitaroun in the Bint Jbeil district.

Israeli aircraft also raided in two batches the town of Al-Mansouri, south of Tyre, which also witnessed a huge explosion that caused sounds and concussions that were felt by the residents of Tyre and neighboring towns.

The Israeli forces carried out a huge bombing in Majdal Zone in two batches, after the Israeli artillery had bombed at dawn Beit Yahoun, Al-Mansouri, Wadi Zebqin, and Wadi Al-Salouqi, in conjunction with the shooting with machine guns towards Hadada and the outskirts of Baraashit.