Lebanon must reclaim control over war and peace, says PM Salam in Eid al-Fitr speech

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed that the state should no longer be blamed for decisions it did not make, noting that earlier military and operational choices led to further destruction, leaving both the government and citizens to bear the consequences.

Speaking on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Salam said that forcing Lebanese citizens into displacement, destruction, fear, and vulnerability cannot be justified, and questioning responsibility should not be labeled as betrayal, warning that such rhetoric fuels internal divisions that ultimately benefit Israel.

Salam emphasized that the Lebanese state remains the central authority, working to provide shelter and aid for displaced citizens while mobilizing all resources to end the conflict as quickly as possible. 

The prime minister called for rejecting hate speech and vindictive rhetoric, describing it as destructive behavior stemming from unhealthy minds rather than genuine political positions.

He underlined that protecting Lebanon requires restoring the country’s authority over decisions on war and peace, and breaking free from serving as a theater for external conflicts. Linking Lebanon to broader regional agendas, he said, increases the country’s costs and gives Israel a pretext to expand aggression.

Salam said Lebanon’s top priorities are ending the war, halting destruction and displacement, protecting civilians, enabling the return of displaced citizens, and launching reconstruction efforts.

He added that the government is committed to reasserting its authority, applying the law equally to all, and restoring the state as the sole guarantor of security and future stability for all Lebanese.