Lebanon’s new prime minister read on Tuesday his government policy statement, stressing that only the country’s armed forces should defend the nation in case of war.
Nawaf Salam was picked to form a new government last month after a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah that killed over 4,000 people and caused widespread destruction.
Hezbollah has kept its weapons over the past decades saying it is necessary to defend Lebanon against Israel. But many in Lebanon have been calling on the group to disarm, and such calls intensified during the latest war that stopped when a US-brokered ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27.
Salam said that the government asserts that Lebanon has the right to defend itself in case of “aggression” and only the state has the right to have weapons.
He also said that the government takes measures to liberate land occupied by Israel “through its forces only.”
The parliament was convening to discuss the policy statement ahead of a vote of confidence.
