Stories
Lebanon PM Urges US to Implement Israel Withdrawal Roadmap Amid Stalled Progress
- •Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, advocating for the implementation of a US-backed framework for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
- •Salam emphasized the need for practical steps to restore Lebanon's full sovereignty, ensure a complete Israeli withdrawal, and confine weapons to the Lebanese state.
- •The framework, agreed upon in June under US auspices, includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, disarmament of Hezbollah, and deployment of the Lebanese army to southern Lebanon.
- •Implementation has stalled due to continued Israeli military activity, displacement, and Hezbollah's refusal to disarm, despite the US administration prioritizing the framework.
- •Salam called for a credible verification mechanism and continued US support for the Lebanese military, tasked with disarming Hezbollah.
Key Questions Answered
The US-brokered framework aims to end fighting, achieve a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore complete Lebanese state control, and disarm non-state groups like Hezbollah. It also provides for the gradual deployment of the Lebanese army to southern regions.
Implementation has stalled due to continued Israeli military strikes, an ongoing military presence in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah's refusal to surrender its weapons. Additionally, formal talks have made little progress since August.
During his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged turning the framework's principles into practical steps and tangible results on the ground. He also called for a credible verification mechanism to monitor compliance and sustained US support for the Lebanese military.
