PM Salam: No war should be fought in Lebanon’s name without the state’s approval

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for increased international pressure to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, warning that continued fighting is deepening the country's humanitarian crisis and delaying the return of displaced residents to their homes.

Speaking at the launch of the second emergency humanitarian appeal, Salam said the government's response plan has focused on nearly one million people displaced by the war, as well as more than 50,000 residents who remained in their towns and villages in southern Lebanon despite the conflict.

Addressing displaced Lebanese, Salam said ensuring their safe and dignified return remains a top priority for the government. He defended Lebanon's pursuit of negotiations, describing diplomacy as the least costly path for the country and the fastest way to secure an Israeli withdrawal and allow residents to return home.

He warned that rejecting a ceasefire would effectively mean prolonging both the war and the humanitarian crisis, which he said continues to worsen with each passing day.

Salam also urged Lebanese political forces to put the country's interests above all other considerations. “Lebanon cannot remain an arena for other people's wars, nor should the south and its residents continue paying the price for decisions that are not theirs,” he said.

The prime minister criticized opposition to a ceasefire, noting that many Lebanese were surprised that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was among the first parties to reject a halt to the fighting. He said this reinforced the government's position that the conflict is not Lebanon's war and is being fought on Lebanese territory at the expense of its people.

“Neither war nor peace should be decided outside the authority of the Lebanese state,” Salam said, stressing that Lebanon should not be treated as a bargaining chip by regional powers and that southern Lebanon should not serve as a reserve front for anyone.

Addressing diplomats and representatives of international organizations, Salam called for pressure on Israel to halt attacks on civilians and stop what he described as the destruction of towns and villages across the south, including areas stretching from Tyre to Bint Jbeil and Nabatieh.

He said negotiations remain ongoing but warned that diplomacy alone cannot succeed while military operations continue. Salam urged the international community to support efforts to secure a ceasefire, protect civilians and their livelihoods, and strengthen the Lebanese state's ability to respond to humanitarian needs.

The prime minister also warned that damage caused by the conflict extends beyond Lebanon, noting that sites such as Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Beaufort Castle represent cultural heritage of global significance.

Concluding his remarks, Salam appealed for support for Lebanon's second humanitarian appeal, saying the gap between needs and available resources has widened significantly and that displaced families and communities affected by the war can no longer afford further delays in assistance.