Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Friday that the government’s commitment to the people of southern Lebanon and Nabatieh “has not and will not change,” stressing that state institutions have resumed operations in Nabatieh to support the resilience of its residents.
Speaking in Nabatieh, Salam said the war “was not our choice but was imposed on us,” emphasizing that the state continues to fulfill its responsibilities toward people in the south.
He said the scale of needs in southern Lebanon and Nabatieh exceeds the state’s capacity and requires substantial funding, stressing that efforts to meet the region’s needs and support its residents will continue.
Salam affirmed that the state will remain present in southern Lebanon and Nabatieh and that its institutions will continue serving citizens and strengthening their ability to remain in their communities.
He said the priorities are to halt attacks, secure Israel’s withdrawal and enable Lebanese residents to return to their towns. He stressed that waiting for a major regional settlement is not an option for Lebanon, as such an agreement may or may not materialize and could come “at Lebanon’s expense.”
Salam said Lebanon must mobilize the resources needed to achieve an Israeli withdrawal and build the state on the basis of “one decision and one army.”
He added that the return of state institutions to Nabatieh is part of restoring the state’s role in the region and serving the Lebanese people, reaffirming the government’s continued responsibility toward southern Lebanon and its residents.
Source: National News Agency
