Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared on Monday that Lebanon will no longer tolerate the presence of weapons outside the state’s control, marking a firm stance on national sovereignty and the rule of law.
“We will not remain silent about the existence of any arms outside the authority of the state,” Salam said in an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia. His comments come amid ongoing concerns over non-state armed groups operating within Lebanon, including Hezbollah and factions in Palestinian refugee camps.
Salam asserted that the “era of exporting the Iranian revolution is over,” and expressed confidence in popular support for his administration’s state-centric agenda.
“The majority of the Lebanese people stand with us,” he stated.
The Prime Minister also addressed Lebanon’s deteriorating reputation in the Arab world, noting that years of political dysfunction and instability had eroded regional and international confidence.
“Our Arab brothers and international friends had lost trust in Lebanon. We are working day and night to regain that trust,” he said. “With their support, we will be more capable of succeeding.”
Charting a new course for the country, Salam emphasized his government’s reformist intentions. “We are placing Lebanon on a new path. I can’t predict where we will end up, but we are definitely on a new track,” he emphasized.
Turning to the issue of arms in Palestinian refugee camps, Salam warned of the risk of internal violence. “The danger of weapons inside the camps is that they could spark Palestinian infighting,” he said. He emphasized that “Palestine’s strength today does not lie in weapons, but in international recognition and diplomacy.”
On the issue of drug trafficking, a growing concern for Lebanon and its neighbors, Salam issued a stark warning about the country’s current trajectory. “Lebanon used to export books and knowledge. Today, it has become known for exporting drugs,” he lamented.
He vowed to reverse this reputation, affirming: “Lebanon will not be a passageway for drug smuggling to any country.”
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