Beirut July 22 (SANA)- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Wednesday that his country will continue its political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a complete Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, considering the start of the withdrawal from the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya as the first step towards achieving this goal.
Salam said in a post on the X platform: “With the start of the Israeli withdrawal from Zawtar al-Gharbiya this morning, I affirm that this is a national moment with great political and moral dimensions, because it represents the beginning of the Israeli withdrawal from our land. Our goal is a complete withdrawal, and this is my first message.”
He added, “My second message to our people in the South: We are here to affirm that we have begun to dedicate all the state’s resources to facilitate your return.
The Lebanese army and security forces are present to protect our returnees.
“In parallel with the army’s deployment, we will continue to open roads, remove rubble, and secure basic services, enabling our people to return safely and with dignity to their homes and villages.”
He indicated that preparations had begun to restore all essential services, including water, electricity, and communications, and that work was underway to secure prefabricated housing and everything necessary to facilitate a transitional phase.
He emphasized that the return of normalcy to the South is not merely a slogan, but a national objective to which the state is committed, as it is the truest expression of Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty.
The Lebanese army began deploying in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Tuesday morning, in accordance with the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel. Its units came under fire from Israeli occupation forces.
Five rounds of negotiations were held between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, culminating in the signing of the framework agreement on June 26th. This agreement stipulates a phased Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, beginning with a pilot phase in two areas.
T.S /Mazen
