LBCI

PM Salam to The Washington Post: Rejects “buffer zone” idea and urges support for army and reconstruction

23-04-2026 | 08:00

Share

Share

PM Salam to The Washington Post: Rejects “buffer zone” idea and urges support for army and reconstruction

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told The Washington Post that Lebanon cannot live with what he described as a so-called “buffer zone” that prevents displaced residents from returning to their towns and villages.

Salam said the Lebanese government has taken “bold decisions” and made progress on measures related to arms control, including confiscating weapons and banning military operations by Hezbollah, stressing that the state’s monopoly over arms is in Lebanon’s national interest regardless of Israel’s demands, adding that “a state cannot have two armies.”

He acknowledged that disarmament cannot happen overnight, but emphasized that what matters most is demonstrating seriousness in the process.

Salam also called on Washington and Paris to help expand and strengthen the Lebanese Army, which he said is facing financial strain in equipment and training.

In addition, he urged international partners to provide funding to address the humanitarian crisis and meet Lebanon’s reconstruction needs.

Lebanon News

Salam

Washington

Post:

Rejects

“buffer

zone”

urges

support

reconstruction

Next

France will send nearly 10 tons of aid to Lebanon: Foreign ministry

Speaker Nabih Berri offers condolences over killing of journalist Amal Khalil

Previous

Recommended For You

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

News Bulletin Reports

13:02

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

UNIFIL reports surge in military activity in South Lebanon

08:44

UNIFIL reports surge in military activity in South Lebanon

PM Salam: Lebanon insists on maintaining UN force in South Lebanon

07:03

PM Salam: Lebanon insists on maintaining UN force in South Lebanon

President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south

06:32

President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

US-Israeli strikes hit 30 universities in Iran since war began

Middle East News

2026-04-04

US-Israeli strikes hit 30 universities in Iran since war began

Beijing urges Australia to handle Chinese arrests 'prudently'

2026-02-11

Beijing urges Australia to handle Chinese arrests 'prudently'

Report: Israeli army drafting plan targeting villages along Lebanon border

Middle East News

2026-04-03

Report: Israeli army drafting plan targeting villages along Lebanon border

Saudi says reserves right of response after Iran attacks Riyadh, east

Middle East News

2026-02-28

Saudi says reserves right of response after Iran attacks Riyadh, east

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

UNIFIL reports surge in military activity in South Lebanon

1

UNIFIL reports surge in military activity in South Lebanon

President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south

2

President Aoun backs extending UNIFIL mandate, stresses need for international presence in south

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

3

Between war and the harvest: South Lebanon’s tobacco farmers hold on

PM Salam: Lebanon insists on maintaining UN force in South Lebanon

4

PM Salam: Lebanon insists on maintaining UN force in South Lebanon

MP Melhem Khalaf urges extending UNIFIL mandate to prevent vacuum in southern Lebanon

5

MP Melhem Khalaf urges extending UNIFIL mandate to prevent vacuum in southern Lebanon

Israeli official says Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to supervise Hamas disarming

6

Israeli official says Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to supervise Hamas disarming

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it gets in way of Iran deal: Report

7

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it gets in way of Iran deal: Report

Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails

8

Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More