Salam: Lebanon did everything possible to avoid the current war, stressing that the country has no interest in being drawn into the regional conflict.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated in an interview with L'Orient-Le Jour that the government had intensified calls for restraint and received assurances from Hezbollah not to intervene and from Israel, through mediators, that it would not launch operations against Lebanon if Hezbollah stayed out of the conflict. However, he noted that "these commitments did not last more than 48 hours."
Salam mentioned that Lebanon is working daily with Arab, European, and US partners to halt the war, expressing gratitude to Saudi Arabia for early humanitarian assistance and to France for its ongoing political and humanitarian support.
He reaffirmed that decisions on war and peace must remain exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state, highlighting that the government is progressing with its plan to place all weapons under state authority across Lebanese territory. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government is not seeking confrontation with Hezbollah but stated that it "will not yield to blackmail."
Salam also confirmed Lebanon's readiness to resume negotiations under international sponsorship to end hostilities. He added that the only guarantees received so far concern sparing Beirut Airport and the road leading to it from bombardment.