Beirut: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam marked the commemoration of Imam Musa al-Sadr's disappearance by pledging to take responsibility for ending the Israeli occupation, rebuilding South Lebanon, and ensuring the return of its displaced residents. In a statement posted on his X account, Salam emphasized the importance of restoring state sovereignty and preventing the South from becoming a battleground for external conflicts.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Salam highlighted Imam al-Sadr's efforts to advocate for southern Lebanon across Arab capitals, warning against allowing the region to suffer due to decisions made beyond its borders. Salam reiterated al-Sadr's warning that "South Lebanon alone paid the price," and vowed to ensure that southerners would no longer bear the burden of wars not decided by the Lebanese people.
Salam recounted al-Sadr's final Arab tour, undertaken for the sake of the South and a sovereign Lebanon, before his disappearance in Libya with Sheikh Mohammed Yaacoub and journalist Abbas Badreddine. Salam committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of southerners returning to their homes, and emphasized the need for the Lebanese state to maintain authority over decisions of war and peace.
He outlined a vision for a fully present state in the South, equipped with a capable army, institutions, and development programs to protect the land and its people. Salam stressed the importance of ending the Israeli occupation, rebuilding destroyed areas, and extending state sovereignty across all Lebanese territories.
Salam concluded by reaffirming the commitment to upholding Imam al-Sadr's vision of a united Lebanon, where the state is never sidelined and where its sovereignty is protected from external threats.