Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited a devastated southern village, vowing to rebuild and reiterating calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal. The visit follows a US-brokered agreement for Israeli troops to pull back from occupied areas.
The visit and the ongoing implementation of the US-brokered agreement signal a potential de-escalation in the conflict between Lebanon and Israel, with implications for regional stability and the rebuilding of war-torn areas in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited the battered southern village of Zawtar Al Gharbieh on Wednesday, vowing to rebuild destroyed homes and infrastructure and reiterating calls for a complete Israeli military withdrawal. His visit follows a landmark meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, where Trump pledged support for the Lebanese government.
A US-brokered agreement signed in late June calls for the Lebanese military to deploy in areas in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah previously held military presence, and for Israeli troops to withdraw. Both sides have agreed on a pilot zone to test the implementation of this agreement. While Israeli forces have conducted operations in these villages, they are not under occupation, and the Lebanese army has not yet deployed in significant numbers.
The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel. Israel responded with aerial campaigns and ground invasions in Lebanon, which resulted in over 4,000 deaths and displaced 1.2 million people. Lebanon's political leadership has criticized Hezbollah for initiating the war but also condemned Israel's extensive bombing and invasion.
Hezbollah has condemned the Lebanese government's direct talks with Israel and rejected the withdrawal agreement, though it has not militarily interfered with its implementation. The group's leadership believes diplomatic pressure alone is insufficient for an Israeli withdrawal and that Lebanon lacks the leverage of its ally, Iran.
President Aoun and the Lebanese government are urging the international community to invest in the country and its army to help rebuild its infrastructure and military capabilities.