Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has pledged to press ahead with reforms, extend the authority of the state, and work to end Israeli attacks and remove the occupation, even as Israel signals preparations for a “measured” military action against Hezbollah.
In a New Year message posted on X, Salam wished Lebanese a year marked by hope, continued state recovery, and restored public trust.
“We promise to continue together the path of reform and the extension of state authority,” he wrote. He added a renewed pledge “to keep working to end Israeli attacks, remove the occupation, and secure the return of our detainees,” saluting the Lebanese army and security forces deployed nationwide to safeguard public safety.
Lebanon has maintained diplomatic contacts with the sponsors of the ceasefire with Israel, which took effect in November 2024 and ended 66 days of fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.
Beirut says diplomacy and steps by the Lebanese army have prevented a renewed war. Israel, however, still occupies five border points inside Lebanese territory, holds around 20 detainees, including civilians, and continues to violate the agreement through intermittent strikes and targeted killings inside Lebanon.
In parallel, Israeli media report heightened security readiness for possible action against Hezbollah, citing Israeli assessments that recent Lebanese measures fall short of ceasefire terms.
The daily Maariv said security chiefs are preparing to brief Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on readiness levels, pointing to what Israel describes as Lebanon’s failure to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure south and north of the Litani River.
According to the report, Lebanon may soon declare the end of army operations to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani without extending them northward, an outcome Israel deems a breach. Israeli assessments suggest this could prompt unilateral action if Lebanon is seen as unable or unwilling to comply.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of rebuilding capabilities, including precision missiles, and says recent airstrikes targeted training sites linked to the Radwan Forces. Israeli officials argue Hezbollah is currently in a weakened operational state, enabling “calibrated” options aimed at pressuring the group while preserving the ceasefire framework.
