Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, warned on Thursday that Israel's offensive in his country has escalated beyond what has been seen in the last sixteen months, in the context of the war linked to Iran, and accused Israeli authorities of seeking to expand their occupation in the south of the country. After a cabinet meeting, Salam stated that both the statements from Israeli leaders and the ongoing military operations indicate broader objectives, which include a significant expansion of control over Lebanese territory. The head of government described the proposals to establish buffer zones or "security belts" as "dangerous," warning that these measures are deepening internal displacement, which already exceeds one million people.
“Lebanon has become a victim of a war whose outcomes and end no one can foresee,” he asserted, while emphasizing that his administration will intensify diplomatic efforts to put an end to violations of national sovereignty and International Humanitarian Law. Salam also questioned Hezbollah's role, noting that its attacks against Israel have been used as a justification to intensify the offensive. In this context, he warned that military coordination with Iranian forces links the conflict in Lebanese territory to external wars in which, he said, the country has no national interest.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister made an urgent call to the international community to reinforce support in response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the conflict, focusing on the care of the displaced and the communities that host them. “The displaced are the first and largest victims of a war in which they had no voice or decision,” he stated, while urging for strengthened internal unity and to avoid divisions, hate speech, and confrontation amid the current crisis.