Lebanon's Prime Minister to Rubio: Set a Timetable for Full Israeli Withdrawal

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington and called for setting a timetable for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, alongside concentrating weapons in the hands of the state. Rubio expressed support for continued aid to the Lebanese army.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington and called for setting a clear timetable for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The meeting took place at the State Department headquarters with the participation of Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji and other senior officials. Salam emphasized the need to move to a practical implementation phase of the "tripartite framework," which includes a full Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of state authority across all its territory, and the concentration of weapons in its hands. He requested the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to examine the implementation of commitments, in order to prevent a situation where non-compliance by one side serves as a pretext to halt the process. It was also reported that Salam addressed the rehabilitation of areas damaged by the fighting, infrastructure, and the return of residents, and requested continued American support for the Lebanese army. Rubio expressed commitment to continued support for Lebanon and its official institutions. The meeting took place against the backdrop of discussions on the future of arrangements in southern Lebanon and the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.