Lebanon PM Demands Full Israeli Withdrawal in UNGA Speech
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, saying his country must not become a battlefield for other powers and insisting that decisions over war, peace and weapons must rest exclusively with the Lebanese state.
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Salam called for consolidating the ceasefire, securing Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territory and restoring full state authority across the country.
“Lebanon will not be a battlefield for others,” was the central message of his address, as the prime minister argued that years of regional confrontation had imposed a heavy security and economic cost on the country.
Salam Calls for Complete Israeli Withdrawal
Salam urged Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territory and said US-mediated negotiations should seek several concrete outcomes: the departure of Israeli forces, the release of Lebanese prisoners and the return of displaced people to their homes.
Independent reporting from Lebanon also confirms that Salam used his UN address to demand Israel’s withdrawal from the entire country and defend Lebanese sovereignty.
The issue is also reflected in existing UN Security Council policy. Resolution 2790 calls on Israel to withdraw its forces north of the Blue Line, including from five positions held inside Lebanese territory, while also calling for Lebanese authorities to extend government control throughout the country.
‘One State, One Authority Over Weapons’
Salam also addressed one of Lebanon’s most politically sensitive issues: armed groups operating outside direct state control.
He said decisions concerning war and peace must belong solely to the Lebanese government, while weapons should remain under state authority.
The prime minister argued that Lebanon could not function with two armies or separate centres making decisions about war.
The statement reflects the Lebanese government’s broader push to strengthen state institutions and extend the authority of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
It also carries clear implications for Hezbollah, although Salam framed the principle more broadly around exclusive state authority rather than simply as a confrontation with one organisation.
UN Security Council Resolution 2790 similarly calls for Lebanon to exercise full sovereignty across its territory so that there are no weapons or authorities outside those of the Lebanese government.
Lebanon Says It Was Dragged Into War
Salam argued that Lebanon had paid heavily in security, stability and economic terms because of conflicts involving regional actors.
He said his government wanted a sovereign state capable of making its own decisions and preventing Lebanon from again becoming an arena for regional conflicts.
This theme has also been echoed by the United Nations. During a visit to Lebanon earlier this year, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Lebanese civilians had suffered heavily and argued that there was no military solution to the conflict, calling instead for diplomacy and implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
UNIFIL Withdrawal Raises New Security Question
Salam’s speech also comes as Lebanon confronts uncertainty over the future security structure in the south.
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a final period through December 31, 2026. An orderly withdrawal is then scheduled to begin.
Salam has warned that the departure of the peacekeeping force without an adequate replacement could create a security vacuum in southern Lebanon. Reports on his UN remarks say he supports consideration of a multinational force if necessary to prevent such a vacuum.
UNIFIL commander Major General Diodato Abagnara has similarly stressed the need for a smooth transition before the mission withdraws, with coordination under way involving the Lebanese army and other UN agencies.
Resolution 1701 Remains Central
The future of southern Lebanon remains closely tied to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted after the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
The Security Council has again demanded full implementation of the resolution, respect for the Blue Line and a cessation of hostilities. It has also called for Israeli withdrawal and the extension of Lebanese government authority throughout the country.
Salam’s UN speech broadly reflected those objectives: Israeli withdrawal, stronger Lebanese state authority and exclusive government control over security decisions.
Ceasefire Remains Fragile
The security situation remains unstable despite ceasefire arrangements.
Current reporting says Israeli military activity has continued in Lebanon while Salam is seeking to consolidate the US-brokered ceasefire and secure Israeli withdrawal.
The UN Security Council has itself expressed concern over continuing violations of the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement and called on all parties to comply with their obligations.
The competing positions remain significant: Lebanon is demanding full Israeli withdrawal and restoration of its territorial sovereignty, while Israel has cited security threats from Hezbollah in explaining its military posture.
Sovereignty at Centre of Salam’s UN Message
The core of Salam’s address was therefore broader than a demand directed at Israel.
He presented a vision in which Lebanon exercises exclusive authority over its territory, weapons and decisions on war and peace, while neither Israel nor regional armed actors determine the country’s security future.
For publication, the key development is clear: Lebanon’s prime minister has publicly demanded Israel’s full withdrawal at the United Nations while simultaneously calling for exclusive Lebanese state control over weapons and security decisions.
